Bassil Supports Berri’s Call for Presidential ‘Dialogue’

Jebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), has emphasized that the FPM has consistently advocated for “consensus” and “dialogue” among the Lebanese people regarding the presidential election.

During the annual dinner of the FPM’s Zahle branch, Bassil stated, “Today, we must strive to achieve unanimity in reaching a presidential consensus, and we must not allow those who control less than one-third of parliament’s seats to obstruct dialogue and the election of a president.”

He further mentioned that some factions are banking on external developments to push for the election of a president and aim to impose a candidate on the Lebanese people. This situation, according to Bassil, makes it necessary to support the dialogue initiative proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri. He emphasized that it is crucial not to exclude anyone from the consultation and consensus-building process.

However, Bassil warned that if unanimity cannot be reached, those with less than one-third of parliamentary seats should not be allowed to block the electoral process, especially if they are hoping for external influences like Israel’s actions.

He stressed that electing a president is key to addressing Lebanon’s various crises and noted that delaying this decision by waiting for the outcome of the Gaza conflict would be a grave mistake for Lebanon. Bassil concluded by underscoring the importance of electing a president to move forward with necessary negotiations for the country.