While Lebanon has witnessed several international and Arab visits in the past hours, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed his optimism about electing a president for the republic in the parliamentary session scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday. In a tweet on his account on the X platform, today, Wednesday, Mikati said: “For the first time since the presidential vacuum, I feel happy that, God willing, tomorrow we will have a new president for the republic.”
This came shortly after the arrival of French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian to Beirut yesterday, where he met with a number of political figures and representatives, in addition to attending the election session scheduled for tomorrow.
Mikati’s position also came with the arrival of the Saudi Foreign Minister’s advisor for Lebanese affairs, Yazid bin Farhan, to Beirut today on his second visit in a few days.
Prince Yazid bin Farhan visited Lebanon last Friday evening and the visit continued until last Sunday, where he met with a number of parliamentary blocs, as well as former Lebanese prime ministers.
The 13th session to elect a president of the republic is scheduled to be held tomorrow, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Army Commander
However, the mystery still surrounds its fate, despite the confirmation of most MPs of their participation in the election process.
Especially since the name of Army Commander Joseph Aoun was strongly mentioned during the past period, and it is an option that, according to Lebanese political circles, is accepted internationally and supported by many MPs.
However, his election requires a constitutional amendment (in the event that he does not obtain two-thirds in the first round), and the Shiite duo (Amal Movement led by Berri and Hezbollah) had previously announced their position rejecting that step.
In addition to Aoun, a number of MPs, including the Free Patriotic Movement headed by Gebran Bassil, have proposed the name of former Minister Jihad Azour.
While Hezbollah and Amal have stuck to their candidate Suleiman Franjieh.
So far, it does not seem that any of the above-mentioned names, along with others proposed, will receive the two-thirds majority required in the first round or first session. Article 49 of the Lebanese Constitution stipulates that two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives must be present and vote to elect the President of the Republic in the first session.
As for the second session, the President can be elected with a majority of only 65 MPs.
It is worth noting that Lebanon has been without a President of the Republic for more than two years, since the end of the term of its former President Michel Aoun.
