Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) and Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, during a consultative ministerial meeting at the Patriarchate's summer headquarters in Dimane, August 8, 2023. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a consultative meeting with Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai at the summer Maronite patriarchal headquarters in Dimane on Tuesday. The two insisted on the need to elect a new president and safeguard the Taif Agreement.
The meeting was proposed by Mikati earlier this month when he, a Sunni, and his cabinet were accused by their critics, including Rai, of abrogating to themselves the prerogatives of the presidency— a position traditionally reserved for a Maronite.
Speaking to L'Orient-Le Jour, Mikati said that the Dimane meeting was meant to signal support for the government.
Some ministers close to Gebran Bassil's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) continue to boycott cabinet meetings in the absence of a president. Only 15 of the 24 ministers took part in Tuesday's consultative meeting.
"It's not about challenging anyone. I want the country to get through this period of vacancy at the head of the state with as little damage as possible," said Mikati.
Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022.Following this meeting, a joint statement was issued that emphasized the "need to speed up the election of a President of the Republic to lead the rescue and recovery process, stressing that the functioning [of institutions] in the absence of the president."
An appeal was then made to "all political forces to respect the Taif Agreement and the National Pact, and to avoid anything that could compromise the Lebanese formula."
In the statement, al-Rai praised "the efforts of [caretaker] Prime Minister and all the ministers to get through this difficult period, while respecting the constitution."
At the start of the meeting, al-Rai explained that "this is not a ministerial session, but rather an informal opportunity for dialogue and consultation on public issues. ... I regret that some people have overestimated the significance of this meeting."
"During the first visit of the French presidential envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, I told him that what he had heard did not reflect reality," continued Rai. "Our country is a parliamentary democratic republic, with two presidential candidates. Let the deputies exercise their electoral duty. Either a president is elected, or he is not. Depending on the outcome, a dialogue may be initiated with a view to reaching a consensus on a third candidate."
‘A blow against Taif’
"We agreed on this meeting to discuss issues that unite the Lebanese, with particular respect for the Lebanese formula," said Mikati. "We are surprised that some consider this meeting to be a blow against the Taif Agreement."
"[Lebanon] is without a president, with a caretaker government, an inactive parliament, and political conflicts have reached their peak. We are ready to meet anywhere to be a bridge of dialogue and brotherhood between all Lebanese," Mikati added.
Many MPs believe that Parliament should only act as an electoral college until a president is elected and should not be empowered to legislate.
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, support the candidacy of MP Sleiman Frangieh. Both parties have maintained their support for Frangieh despite the political stalemate, but have been unable to secure his election in twelve electoral sessions.
On July 29, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah declared that "everyone is waiting for September" and that a "serious dialogue" must be opened. On Tuesday, Berri called the September dialogue "an opportunity not to be missed.”
