Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai received MPs Marwan Hamadeh and Raji al-Saad in Bkerke on Monday. The parliamentarians were sent as envoys by former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Joumblatt to emphasize the need for swift presidential elections.
"We stressed the urgent need to stop the war and to separate the Gaza front from Lebanon," al-Saad stated after the meeting. "We also highlighted the pressing necessity of electing a president and applying pressure on the international community to halt the war in Lebanon."
In a separate meeting, the Patriarch welcomed a delegation from the Committee for Drafting the al-Azhar Statement, headed by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
Siniora emphasized the need for an "immediate commencement of the presidential election process according to the Constitution, without excuses or preconditions, and without waiting for any local, regional, or international developments."
Meanwhile, the Independent Parliamentary Consultation Bloc had two meetings, the first with the Moderation Bloc and the second with the Change Alliance to discuss the latest developments in the country.
The parties "emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and expressed support for the official Lebanese position on this matter." They also "stressed the importance of electing a president of the Republic as soon as possible."
The groups discussed "the path to achieving the presidential elections and agreed to intensify coordination among themselves and with all parliamentary blocs without exception," aiming to enhance cooperation and "prevent the isolation of any internal Lebanese faction."
They concluded by exploring "steps to achieve this goal through a broad and qualified majority in Parliament."
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