From left to right: Simon Abi Ramia, Elias Bou Saab, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, Ibrahim Kanaan and Alain Aoun, in Dimane, North Lebanon, Sept. 5, 2024. (Credit: Simon Abi Ramia's X account)
On Thursday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai met with four MPs from the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) who recently resigned: Ibrahim Kanaan, Elias Bou Saab, Alain Aoun, and Simon Abi Ramia. The meeting took place at the patriarchate's summer residence in Dimane, North Lebanon.
A source close to the MPs said the discussion centered on viewing the presidential election as a means to resolve the crisis in the country, rather than an end in itself. The MPs emphasized the importance of broadening Christian and national unity.
Patriarch Rai expressed support for any initiative aimed at overcoming the current political deadlock. The source added that a larger consultative meeting with deputies focusing on these issues is expected to be held in the coming weeks.
'National Alliance,' to elect Lebanese president
At the end of the meeting, Kanaan called for a "national alliance" to elect a president and announced his intention to launch an "internal Christian dynamic," according to the National News Agency (NNA).
Kanaan, the MP for Metn, has frequently been discussed as a potential presidential candidate, though he has never been formally nominated. This speculation was a key factor in the tensions between him and FPM leader Gebran Bassil, which ultimately led to his departure from the party.
'Internal Christian dynamics'
"Our movement transcends individuals and personal interests. We aim to convene everyone around a set of measures, as building a common future is impossible with a mindset of division, fragmentation, rancor, and betrayal among the Lebanese," Kanaan said. He emphasized that the group's priority is to elect a president "through a national alliance we seek to establish to rescue Lebanon from the current chaos and collapse" and to ensure a "new beginning, at all levels."
Kanaan lamented that "political stagnation today prevents us from finding internal solutions and limits our ability to influence outcomes, leaving us subject to external settlements over which we have no control."
He added that the goal of the four deputies who left the FPM "will become evident in the next stage," through an "internal and national Christian dynamic" that will lead us out of the current impasse.
"We are reaching out to everyone," concluded Kanaan. "Our homeland is greater than any individual or party."
In March 2024, the FPM expelled Vice-President of Parliament Bou Saab for allegedly violating the "provisions of the internal regulations and failing to comply with the party's directives." The party also expelled MP Aoun, accusing him of defying the party's "decisions and directives at political, organizational, and media levels" and not adhering to the party's decision (to vote for Jihad Azour) during the last presidential election session.
Shortly after, MP Abi Ramia, re-elected in 2022 in the Jbeil constituency, announced his departure from the FPM, citing "disagreements" with the party leadership. Finally, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, MP Kanaan resigned from the bloc, two weeks after proposing a reconciliation initiative within the party, which was promptly rejected.
On Monday, two FPM deputies, Nada Boustani and Georges Atallah, along with the party’s Vice-President for Political Affairs, Martine Kouteily, visited Rai in Dimane and discussed "recent events involving certain deputies" within the FPM, according to the NNA.