Berri Meets Bassil and Quint Ambassadors to Discuss Presidential Issue

Ambassadors from a five-nation group consisting of the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming presidential election. Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, announced that the election session set for January 9 will continue with multiple rounds of voting until a president is elected.

U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson expressed optimism, saying she felt “positive” about the situation. This session aims to resolve Lebanon’s more than two-year-long vacancy of the presidency, which has been left unfilled since Michel Aoun’s term ended in October 2022. The country’s political divisions, particularly between Hezbollah and its opposition, have prevented the election of a new president, with neither side able to secure the necessary majority.

Berri confirmed that the session on January 9 will proceed as planned without delay. He emphasized the certainty of electing a president on that date, telling Asharq al-Awsat that there would be no postponement. After meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil, the latter echoed Berri’s confidence, expressing optimism that the election process is progressing well. Bassil stated that Lebanon would, “God willing,” have a president on January 9.