Hezbollah proves every day that it is not serious about nominating Suleiman Frangieh, the leader of the Marada Movement, for the presidency. It does not want to complete the presidential process and is obstructing it through the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, who does not call for a session to elect a new president for the republic.
So, what does Hezbollah want? Diplomatic sources familiar with the behind-the-scenes meeting between Le Drian and MP Mohammad Raad have revealed, that the French envoy sensed that Hezbollah does not want presidential elections to take place. In fact, the party has broader aspirations and aims to establish a new formula that would officially grant it control over the state’s mechanisms through a new constitution. Hezbollah has been striving since its inception to achieve this goal.
Sources consider via “Sawt Beirut International,” that the issue of the presidency in Lebanon is highly complex. So far, initiatives have not succeeded in breaking through the barriers of the political parties’ positions. The problem in Lebanon is not only about electing a president but rather about a comprehensive package. The president needs a prime minister and a team that aligns with them, as previous experiences have been unsuccessful and hindered governmental work, resulting in a complete paralysis, a severe political and economic crisis in Lebanon. Therefore, any new initiative must consider this dilemma, and solutions outside this context will not succeed. Hence, friendly countries to Lebanon, especially those in the Quintet, should approach the crisis in Lebanon with a comprehensive solution. Otherwise, the institutions will remain paralyzed, and Lebanon will never regain stability.
The sources emphasize that the Quintet countries should exert pressure on Tehran in persuading Hezbollah, to reconsider certain demands and projects, such as regime change or pursuing a tripartite system, as these ideas are deemed inappropriate at the current time. The sources express hope that solutions will materialize in the coming weeks.