Quintet Confronts Berri: Presidential Void Lingers

On Tuesday, representatives from a five-nation group tasked with resolving Lebanon’s political deadlock met with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This meeting included the ambassadors from Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, along with the Chargé d’Affaires from the U.S. embassy, who discussed outcomes from their recent discussions with key Lebanese political figures.

Over the week, these diplomats engaged with several Lebanese leaders including Marada’s Suleiman Franjieh, Kataeb’s Sami Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement’s Jebran Bassil, members of the National Moderation bloc, and the Loyalty to Resistance bloc linked to Hezbollah.

Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun’s term concluded in October 2022, leading to a standoff between factions in parliament, with neither side having enough votes to secure presidential election. The international community, along with the five-nation group, has been pressing for an end to this political stalemate amidst a severe economic crisis.

Egyptian Ambassador Alaa Moussa described the discussions with Berri as “positive” and anticipated further talks with parliamentary groups in the days ahead. According to a report by Nidaa al-Watan on Monday, there’s a concerted effort by this international group to push Berri towards resolving the persistent absence of a president by establishing a clear timeline for the election.