For Riyadh, a president should be elected in Lebanon without delay.
The most significant aspect of the Marada leaders’ visit to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador, Walid Bukhari, on Thursday morning lies in its form. The visit reflects Riyadh’s consistent position on the Lebanese presidential election, thereby preventing any potential misinterpretation of the exchanges between the two men.
Mr. Bukhari, who has been on a tour with political and religious leaders since his return to Beirut following Eid al-Fitr, chose to host Hezbollah and Amal’s candidate for the head of state, at his residence instead of visiting him.
Sources close to Bnechii (the stronghold of the Marada), suggested that Mr. Bukhari’s decision not to visit the Marada leader is due to security concerns, the ambassador’s busy agenda in Beirut, and a Saudi desire to prevent any interpretation of this move.
However, in the March 8 camp, the formal aspects of the meeting between Bukhari and Frangieh are downplayed in favor of its very substance.
According to this camp, the meeting contradicts reports that Paris has abandoned its initiative to encourage the various Lebanese parties to agree on a formula that would involve electing Mr. Frangieh as the head of state in exchange for appointing a Prime Minister from the opposition.
The underlying truth is complex, and the Kingdom’s diplomatic representation is very subtle as it matches perfectly with Mr. Bukhari’s discourse. The diplomat consistently emphasizes, both in his conversations with Lebanese officials and in his statements to the press, that his country does not veto any candidate and that it is ultimately up to the Lebanese to reach a consensus on a candidate for the head of state. This is precisely what he wanted to demonstrate by meeting with Mr. Frangieh.
However, by choosing to host him at his residence, rather than going to Bnechii, Mr. Bukhari sought to prevent the March 8 camp from exploiting his visit to promote their candidate. Above all, he wanted to show that he makes a difference between the Moumanaa candidate (the Syro-Iranian axis) and the rest of the political leaders he visits.
A way out?
Member of Parliament Achraf Rifi, who is also a member of the Tajaddod bloc, perceives this meeting as a diplomatic gesture. He believes it is designed to provide Sleiman Frangieh with a graceful exit from the presidential race. In a statement on the radio, he commented that if Sleiman Frangieh had a chance of being elected, the Saudi Arabian ambassador would have visited him. He cited information indicating that the visit was the result of an intervention by France and other personalities.
Several opposition sources emphasized the formal nature of the conversation and the laconic tone used by Mr. Frangieh in commenting on the exchanges with the Saudi diplomat. The Marada leader thanked Mr. Bukhari on his Twitter account, before stating that the meeting was “friendly and excellent”. According to sources close to Saudi Arabia, it is stressed that the Kingdom is still “open to all” and that its position remains unchanged regarding Lebanon and the issue of the presidential election. Riyadh believes the Lebanese should initiate a dynamic and agree on a candidate “whose profile would be compatible with the personality who must lead the government formed once the head of state is elected”. Basically, a person with great integrity and leadership skills who can launch a comprehensive reform program to solve Lebanon’s current crisis. Riyadh, and the international community in general, will determine their position towards Lebanon based on this choice.
Ambassador Bukhari reiterated the principles his country had put forward during the meeting he held with the members of the National Moderation bloc, Walid Baarini, Mohammad Sleiman, Sajih Attiyé, Ahmad Rustom, Abdel Aziz Samad, Ahmad Kheir and former MP Hadi Hobeiche, at their office in Saïfi. It is believed that Mr. Bukhari reaffirmed that his country has no veto against anyone and that Lebanon should elect a President of the Republic the soonest possible.
