Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil in Baabda on January 12, 2022. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — The head of the Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil shared the list of criteria he believes the next president of Lebanon should meet, but didn’t present a name, during a press conference Thursday.
Bassil said the priorities of the upcoming president should be to maintain and develop Lebanon’s foreign relations, refrain from dragging Lebanon into unnecessary conflicts, ensure the safe return of the displaced Syrians as well as the return of Palestinian refugees.
He mentioned that the future president should "develop a defense strategy in which the state will be the main reference," alluding to the arsenal of Hezbollah, the only Lebanese militia that is still armed.
The FPM leader also insisted that the next head of state "preserve the role" of the presidency. This question has been at the heart of a dispute Bassil and current President Michel Aoun are waging with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on the respective prerogatives of their offices.
Bassil added that a plan should be put forward by the upcoming president to ensure a “financial recovery that unifies the exchange rate and restructures banks while preserving the rights of depositors.”
Among his criteria, the FPM leader asked that the president "addresses the gaps and imbalances in the constitution" and "abolish sectarianism and adopt a civil personal status law."
Bassil warned that “the situation seems to be heading towards a presidential vacancy,” as Aoun’s mandate expires Oct. 31. He proposed “a national dialogue on the presidential election, led by the President ... [because] it is better for us to engage in dialogue internally.”
The first parliamentary session to elect a new president took place on Sept. 29, despite the lack of consensus on a candidate. FPM casted a blank ballot and the session was adjourned after the first round of voting.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for the second session of voting, which is scheduled to take place on Oct. 13.
On the maritime border negotiations with Israel, Bassil urged citizens to remain calm as negotiations are still ongoing, even though Israel refused amendments sent by Lebanon on a proposed deal.
"The other option is war, which nobody wants, as our priority is Lebanon’s stability," he said.
US envoy Amos Hochstein resumed indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel in relation to their maritime borders after tensions were stoked by the June arrival of a floating production unit in the Karish field. The unit belonged to London-listed power company Energean and was to begin drilling in the gas field on behalf of the Israeli state.