Will a New President Be Elected on January 9?

In a recent televised interview, Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa described a meeting between the Quint’s ambassadors and Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as one of the most productive discussions. Moussa emphasized that Berri is committed to electing a president who can bring unity and support the enforcement of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701.

UNSC Resolution 1701, passed in 2006 after the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, aims to ensure lasting security along the Lebanese-Israeli border. It mandates the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, with the Lebanese army and the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) taking control south of the Litani River, excluding Hezbollah. However, the resolution’s terms have never been fully implemented.

The relevance of Resolution 1701 resurfaced after a U.S.-mediated ceasefire came into effect in late November to end the hostilities that began with Hezbollah’s support for Gaza. The ceasefire calls for the implementation of Resolution 1701, with both the U.S. and France overseeing the process. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, have also been involved in efforts to facilitate the election of a president in Lebanon.

Berri has reiterated that a parliamentary session on January 9 will take place to elect a new president, despite Lebanon being without a head of state for over two years due to a deadlock between the pro- and anti-Hezbollah factions. The session is expected to provide enough time for the various political groups to reach a consensus.

According to the Egyptian ambassador, the ideal president would have broad support from the parliamentary blocs and align with Resolution 1701. Although no candidates currently have the backing of both sides, Moussa stated that the January session would proceed with multiple rounds of voting until a president is chosen.