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French sources have confirmed that the French Special Envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, will be arriving in Beirut in the upcoming days to fulfill his mission tied to Lebanese affairs, with a special emphasis on facilitating the election of a president of the Republic.
These sources emphasized that this visit is carefully coordinated with the Qataris, and additional contacts are planned with the other members of the Quintet, namely the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
As per French sources, Le Drian’s proactive involvement with Lebanon is primarily motivated by the need to emphasize concern regarding the ongoing presidential vacancy. There is mounting apprehension that the latter could potentially extend to the position of the Army Commander-in-Chief, which can further exacerbate the breakdown of the Lebanese state.
Furthermore, Le Drian will stress the pressing need for Lebanon to swiftly elect a president in the context of evolving regional dynamics. This is especially pertinent as the conclusion of the Gaza war may lead to regional and international talks aimed at finding a political solution to the Palestinian issue. As such, Lebanon must be present and actively participate in these discussions, as it is directly involved in this matter and is affected by the events that have taken place and are unfolding. In this context, Lebanon’s engagement hinges on the presence of a duly elected president and an effective government actively participating in the regional political resolution while also launching the reform process.
French sources have also confirmed that Le Drian plans to revive the proposal of electing a head of state based on the formula he previously outlined during his visit to Lebanon last September. This approach involves convening an open session with successive rounds, ensuring a sustained quorum, and ultimately leading to the election of a president. The potential candidate could be endorsed by the political parties or through what has been known as the third option. However, according to the sources mentioned above, the crucial point is and will remain the election of a president of the Republic as soon as possible.
During his visit, Le Drian will meet with Lebanese officials, including the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, and the Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, in addition to representatives from political parties involved in the presidential election process.
