Leaders from Lebanon’s political parties are converging on Qatar, seeking to address pressing issues in the country’s political landscape.
Druze leader Walid Joumblatt is in Doha, where he is engaging in discussions with Qatari officials, notably regarding the election of a president.
The significance of this visit is underscored by Qatar’s active involvement in Lebanon’s political arena, epitomized by the multiple visits of Qatari envoy Jassim Al-Thani, “Abu Fahd,” to Beirut. Al-Thani held pivotal meetings with various political factions, aiming to catalyze progress towards the election of a president, especially given Qatar’s representation in the quintet.
It seems like different political leaders will follow Joumblatt to Doha. Samir Geagea, head of the Lebanese Forces, will delegate representatives from the Strong Republic bloc to Qatar. The president of the Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, and the chief of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Gebran Bassil, might also be visiting the Qatari capital, similarly to their counterparts.
Informed sources suggest that Doha will not repeat its 2008 approach when it convened a Lebanese conference, after which General Michel Sleiman ascended to the presidency.
It is important to note that the political “pilgrimage” to Doha commenced earlier, with MP Ali Hassan Khalil, political aide to Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Khalil, representing Berri, conveyed a message to the Emir of Qatar, signaling Lebanon’s devotion to seeking resolutions to the Lebanese political crisis.
Qatar’s proactive intervention comes amid heightened international interest, notably from decision-making capitals like Washington and Paris, underscoring the urgency of electing a president in Lebanon.
