Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri emphasized the critical necessity of a consensus president who does not present a challenge to any party, indicating his readiness to convene an electoral session once a majority of 86 votes is secured for a candidate. He acknowledged the severity of the situation by stating that he no longer insists on holding dialogues before the election.
When asked about a shift in the balance of power after the Israeli war on Lebanon and the death of Sayyed Nasrallah, Berri promptly dismissed any notions of weakened influence, asserting, "Anyone entertaining such thoughts is delusional." He maintained that the parliamentary balance remains unaltered.
"As far as I know, the balance of the parliament has not changed, nor have the sizes of the parliamentary blocs shifted. Therefore, no party holds a majority that would allow it alone to decide the identity of the president, which is why we are calling for consensus,” he said in an interview on Monday with local newspaper Al-Joumhouria.
Berri debunked the notion that the "Shiaa duo" had diminished and hinted at the possibility of consensus regarding the election of Sleiman Frangieh.
Commitment to the Joint American-French-European-Arab Appeal
The Speaker of Parliament affirmed his commitment to the joint American-French-European-Arab appeal issued on September 25, which calls for a 21-day ceasefire while negotiations continue to implement Resolution 1701.
“This international statement forms the proper basis for ending the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon,” he said.
He noted that while Paris and London stand firmly behind this statement, Washington offers only formal support and fails to exert pressure on Israel for compliance. Berri expressed concerns about Netanyahu's unchecked actions, suggesting that he might be influencing the United States rather than the other way around.
Berri emphasized the need to work on two fronts: continuing resistance to prevent occupation and pursuing diplomatic efforts to implement the international plan.
Ain al-Tineh Meeting
The Speaker of Parliament explained that the decision not to invite any Christian figures to the Ain al-Tineh meeting, which caused concern in Christian circles, was not intended “to exclude them.” He highlighted the apprehension that favoring one figure over another could trigger sensitivities. To address this, a nationalistic statement was issued to convey positive messages, with hopes for a reciprocal positive reception from others.
Displaced
Berri pointed out that the issue of displaced people is his biggest concern at this stage, stressing that "the Amal Movement is doing everything possible to alleviate the burden of displacement on our people,” while expressing “complete confidence that the displaced will return to their villages and towns within 24 hours after the war ends.”
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