French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, welcomed by the Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, 13 September 2023, in Beirut. Photo Anwar Amro/AFP
French special envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian has been meeting politicians in Lebanon in a bid to unblock the nearly one-year presidential deadlock. The country has been without a head of state since October 31, 2022, when Michel Aoun's term ended. Twelve electoral sessions have failed due to a lack of political consensus.
1. What's the latest from his visit?
Le Drian began Wednesday meeting the former head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Joumblatt, and MP Teymour Joumblatt, in the presence of MP Wael Bou Faou, in in Clemenceau.
Walid Joumblatt stated that he "supports the initiative of Nabih Berri and that of French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian," according to local media reports.
At the end of August, Nabih Berri pledged to hold open parliamentary sessions, provided that they were preceded by an extended dialogue between the leaders of parliamentary groups in the chamber for seven days. While this initiative was welcomed by Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), it was criticized by the opposition. Maronite Christian leader Béchara Raï indirectly encouraged the MPs to participate in the dialogue.
"The Lebanese Forces (FL) always have different views from ours. We prefer the point of view of Berri and Le Drian, who call for dialogue," he said.
When asked about a planned dialogue on September 21 regarding the presidential election, the Druze leader said he had not been informed of such a meeting. "Everything will happen at the right time," he said.
Regarding the possible support of Jean-Yves Le Drian for the candidacy of Marada leader Sleiman Frangieh, Walid Joumblatt stated that he did not mention any names during the meeting. He also called on the various parliamentary blocs, as well as his son, MP Taymour Joumblatt, to respond to the invitation for dialogue. The former leader of the PSP also lamented that "certain parties do not want solutions" to the political crisis.
2. Le Drian's meeting with Hezbollah
Jean-Yves Le Drian met with the head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, on an unspecified date - according to a statement released on Wednesday afternoon by Hezbollah's press office.
Le Drian meeting with the head of the parliamentary block of Hezbollah, Mohammad Raad, à Beyrouth. Photo Hezbollah press office
"Discussions focused on the French initiative to launch dialogue among the Lebanese regarding the presidential election. Mohammad Raad believes that Nabih Berri's proposal falls within the framework of French efforts," the statement said.
According to the statement, the head of Hezbollah's bloc stressed "the importance of dialogue and communication among the Lebanese, as it is the only way to get out of the current situation regarding the presidential election." The discussions also touched on the mechanism that could be put in place regarding this matter.
3. Opposition to dialogue by Moawad, the Lebanese Forces, and Kataeb
The French envoy met with former presidential candidate Michel Moawad and MP Fouad Makhzoumi. They called for "open electoral sessions to elect a president." Moawad's parliamentary group also stressed that "dialogue does not mean legitimizing tables that go beyond the scope of institutions." The MPs also reiterated the opposition's common position, which is to "refuse to participate in such tables" for dialogue.
Jean-Yves Le Drian met with Kataeb leader Samy Gemayel. "The opposition took a step forward when it announced the candidacy of Jihad Azour and reached an agreement with Michel Moawad for him to withdraw his candidacy. This is a step that falls within the framework of dialogue. But the initiative has encountered total refusal, a threat, and a blockade. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stopped convening the Parliament, and Hezbollah is sticking to its candidate," Gemayel denounced. "Hezbollah must meet us halfway," he pleaded. The Christian leader also believed that "those who threaten and kill are treated the same as those who suffer from the blockade and attacks. They cannot be placed at the same table as if they were equals."
The French envoy was finally received by the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea. "Currently, we need to elect a president instead of wasting time with dialogues that are being held all day long, directly or indirectly," Geagea said after their meeting. He also reiterated that the one blocking the presidential election is the Syrian-Iranian axis. "We do not have a veto over the name of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. Each thing in its time," he concluded.
Other meetings
On Tuesday, the envoy of the Elysee for Lebanon met with outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the head of the FPM, Gebran Bassil, and Sleiman Frangieh. He also held talks with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. Jean-Yves Le Drian declared on Tuesday at the Grand Serail that the initiative launched by the Speaker of Parliament to try to resolve the presidential election deadlock represents "a beginning of a solution".