Berri: Quintet Backs President Consensus via ‘Consultations’

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri revealed in an interview with al-Jadeed TV on Sunday that ambassadors from the Quintet, a five-nation group including the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, have assured him that they don’t endorse any specific candidate for the Lebanese presidency. They also confirmed that they don’t intend to block any candidates, preferring instead to support Lebanon in selecting its own leader.

Berri had recently met with the ambassadors of these member states and reported a consensus and positive outlook from the meeting. He mentioned that the ambassadors and he concurred on the necessity of consensus in the presidential election, suggesting the term “consultations” be used instead of “dialogue” for pre-vote discussions. Berri emphasized that without such consultations, achieving a successful presidential election would be challenging, as neither of the two primary parliamentary groups—Hezbollah and its opposition—holds a majority.

Addressing the potential of parties boycotting the election sessions, Berri acknowledged it as a constitutional right but highlighted the need for a quorum of 86 members. He noted that complete unanimity wasn’t his expectation.

The call for dialogue by Berri has been met with criticism from opposition MPs, who argue that the president should be elected through a parliamentary vote rather than through dialogue. They have urged Berri to schedule consecutive election sessions for this purpose.

Despite these differing views, Berri reiterated the unified stance of the Quintet’s ambassadors in their willingness to assist Lebanon in resolving its presidential crisis. He also mentioned that he is open to deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab leading the talks.