The 13 "Forces of Change" MPs in Baabda, on June 23 2022. (Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — Forces of Change MPs met with the Democratic Gathering bloc on Wednesday as part of a parliamentary tour with other MPs to determine the profile of Lebanon's next president.
The tour began Monday with the goal of "preventing any presidential vacancy," which some fear may follow the end of Michel Aoun's mandate on Oct. 31.
“There is a basic duty for all blocs to take responsibility and resort to dialogue to protect the country from upcoming collapse,” said MP Mark Daou after the meeting.
Hadi Abu Al Hosn, Democratic Gathering bloc member, said that the Progressive Socialist Party’s vision aligns with his bloc in terms of the “economic and social vision” that comes with a reformist rescue program.
Abu Al Hosn stated that the “points [the PSP] raised converge with our orientations in regard to electing the next president of Lebanon.” He also stated that the next president should be able to restore citizens' confidence in the state, reformulate Lebanon's relationship with the Arab world and restore Lebanon's presence to the international forum.
“The outside world is occupied with its own challenges,” said Abu Al Hosn, making the argument that Lebanon should solve its own problems and not wait for outside forces to help.
After a Monday meeting with Tachnag and Kataeb MPs, Forces of Change MPs met with the Free Patriotic Movement bloc, the Renewal group, Amal Movement, and Hezbollah on Tuesday.