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  • Apr.
  • 2024

Quintet Keen on Holding Presidential Election by June at the Latest

modified on 24 Apr. 2024 à 03:20 Read : 2 minute(s) A A A
Quintet Keen on Holding Presidential Election by June at the Latest

According to French sources, House Speaker Nabih Berri was supposed to visit Paris along with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to meet with President Emmanuel Macron. However, Berri failed to show up, prompting Macron to contact him to confirm that the invitation still stands, although no specific date has been set.
This coincides with a heightened drive, spearheaded by France and supported within the Quintet Committee (US, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt) to achieve the long-stalled presidential election in Lebanon. The emphasis is to conclude this process by June at the latest, given the impending shift of attention to the US presidential elections from that date onward, which could diminish focus on Lebanon and other dossiers.
France, and other member states of the Quintet, are deeply concerned about a potential broad Israeli strike against Lebanon in the summer if a president is not elected and a political agreement to secure stability along the southern border is not reached.
During a phone call on Monday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, French President Emmanuel Macron "particularly stressed France's efforts" in coordination with its international partners "to work for a de-escalation on the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon."

The ambassadors of the Quintet Committee are expected to relay their concern to Speaker Nabih Berri, whom they are expected to meet on Tuesday in the absence of the American Ambassador, Lisa Johnson, who is currently outside Lebanon.
According to the French sources, the diplomatic dynamics of the ambassadors complements the efforts undertaken by French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, concerning the Lebanese situation. These include his recent visit to Washington, where he was accompanied by former French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo.
Members of the five-nation committee agreed that no envoy or delegate would act independently outside the committee’s framework. They also stipulated that all activities in Lebanon would be conducted solely through the ambassadors. Additionally, the committee members pledged to refrain from proposing or endorsing any names for the Lebanese presidency. Discussions on the matter would be limited to the ambassadors in Beirut, and any official statement on the presidency should be coordinated with them.
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