Le Drian (right), arriving at the Grand Serail on Sept. 12, 2023. (Credit: Muhammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — A cross-party dialogue initiative called for last month by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri should be "a beginning of a solution" to Lebanon's nearly one-year presidential vacuum, French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday during his third official visit to help end the deadlock.
At the end of August, Berri pledged to hold open parliamentary election sessions, provided they were preceded by a seven-day dialogue bringing together various political blocs.
While welcomed by Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Berri's initiative faced criticism from the opposition. Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, on the other hand, indirectly encouraged MPs to participate in the dialogue.
Le Drian arrived in Beirut on Monday for his third round of talks with local stakeholders.
'Beginning of solution' to crisis
The French envoy met on Tuesday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, where he expressed hope that Berri's initiative would "be a beginning of a solution" to the deadlock.
Mikati said at the meeting that finally electing a president and implementing certain economic reforms "constitute the beginning of a solution" to the country's spiraling financial and political crisis.
Le Drian later met with Berri on Tuesday. He then held talks with the army's commander-in-chief, Gen. Joseph Aoun.
Le Drian and Aoun discussed Lebanon's security situation and the challenges facing the military institution, in particular those linked to the clandestine entry of Syrians into Lebanon and the Palestinian refugee population in Lebanon.
Le Drian pledged that "France will continue to support the army and strengthen its capabilities."
Later on Tuesday evening, Le Drian met with Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh, who has been favored by Hezbollah and Amal to become president.
Franjieh received Le Drian, along with the new French ambassador, Hervé Magro, at the house of his son, MP Tony Franjieh, in Beirut.
The Marada Movement said in a statement that "during the meeting, the current political situation and ways to complete the presidential elections were discussed, in light of all the pressing and urgent crises. The importance of dialogue as a basic and necessary input to achieving presidential eligibility as soon as possible" was also highlighted.
The French envoy also met with FPM leader Gebran Bassil.
On Wednesday, Le Drian is set to meet with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel, independent MP and former presidential frontrunner Michel Moawad, opposition MPs, and Maronite head Rai.
Le Drian meets with Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh on Sept.12, 2023. (Credit: Muhammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)
Consensual solution
The French envoy's latest visit comes after previous failed dialogue initiatives aimed at getting political parties to agree on a presidential candidate.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre explained that the objective of Le Drian's visit was to bring about "a consensual solution in Parliament to overcome the institutional vacancy."
"I am not going to prejudge the results of a mission that has only just begun," she added, pointing out that the envoy arrived on Monday evening.
"We hope that the Lebanese leaders hear the urgency that is being expressed by France," she continued, adding that Le Drian was working "in coordination" with partners in the region.
"Following on from the contacts made during his first missions, he will once again hold talks with all the political players represented in Parliament, who are responsible for electing a president," Legendre said.
Le Drian this week will have a “concrete framework” for bilateral discussions, based on responses by various Lebanese actors to a questionnaire he sent to them on Aug. 15, according to a Western diplomat who spoke to L'Orient-Le Jour on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic.
In the questionnaire, Le Drian reportedly asked different parliamentary groups about the "priority projects" the next president of the country should focus on, as well as the "qualities and skills" the future head of state should possess.
However, some opposition groups refused to respond in writing to the questionnaire.
For months now, France has been reaffirming the "urgent need to elect a president as the first step in getting political institutions back on track," the spokeswoman added. She also expressed concern about the "worrying weakening of public institutions," with an acting governor at the head of Banque du Liban and "a Parliament that no longer meets to pass the laws essential to the country's recovery."
