The Free Patriotic Movement is one of the few political parties completely absent from Nawaf Salam's government. While some Sunni-majority groups or blocs and even the Marada are also absent, none have as many MPs as the FPM. Was this party deliberately excluded from the government to penalize it for its positions before the presidential election on Jan. 9, or for its over 15-year alliance with Hezbollah?

The various parties involved believe there is no spirit of revenge from those who participated in the formation of the government against the FPM.

First, regarding President Joseph Aoun, the meeting between him and his predecessor, Michel Aoun, who came to congratulate him at the Baabda Palace the day after his election, was positive and even emotional. The former president also sincerely wished him success. Then, when the head of state met the Strong Lebanon bloc, the meeting was also very positive and Gebran Bassil told Joseph Aoun that he and the members of his bloc plan to be a sincere support for the presidency. The same goes for relations between the FPM and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. What happened is much simpler than it seems.

From the beginning, the prime minister had certain criteria and a series of names in mind that matched these criteria. He asked all those who wanted to participate in the government to conform and propose names that fit within this framework. This is why, on close inspection, most ministers in the government have resumes with many common points in terms of qualifications and competencies, far from any striking political consideration or coloration. Because of this, the presence or absence of the FPM was no longer an important factor. Especially since no party was really ready to exert all its weight to include the FPM from the government.

The president had his candidates, and the prime minister had his.

The latter also had to consider the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb, and there was no longer room for the FPM, especially since Hezbollah was busy preserving its presence. The FPM could have done like others, notably the Lebanese Forces, by choosing people who are not really in its movement but rather in that of the president and the prime minister, just to ensure its presence within the government. However, according to sources close to the FPM, it did not want to play this game out of respect for its own line and because it is aware that with one or two ministers, it cannot really influence decisions.

While publicly, the FPM does not consider itself among the losers, internally, debates are ongoing and the question that arises most often is what this party will do and whether it plans to position itself in the opposition.

So far, there is no clear position.

According to sources close to the FPM, this party wishes to give the government a chance, especially in the difficult circumstances the country is going through. The Strong Lebanon bloc plans to stand by the president and support him if necessary.

It stated that it wants to open a new chapter with President Joseph Aoun after the rift that began with the Oct. 17, 2019 uprising, which the FPM considered directed against it and Michel Aoun. This is even more important as the upcoming period is certainly full of hope but also fraught with difficulties and crucial deadlines.

It is a rare opportunity for Lebanon to build a real state and functioning public institutions, far from the spirit of confessional and political pie-sharing that has prevailed for years and undermines the very concept of the state. But this opportunity must be seized, for while there are many new actors, there is still a system in place that remains resistant to change.

In any case, the FPM does not intend to turn a blind eye to potential government mistakes. However, this does not mean it intends to oppose at all costs.

It wants to remain vigilant about principles it considers fundamental, regarding state-building, fighting corruption, and rejecting the exclusion of any component of the country. At the same time, it plans to devote itself to its own rebuilding after the tremors it has experienced while seeking to establish positive relations with all willing components.

Yes, the FPM is currently outside the government, but it does not intend to be out of political life. This is the phrase that most often recurs in its public statements, along with another that recalls the years of exclusion starting from 1990, which did not prevent it from making a strong comeback in 2005.

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.