Lebanese Factions Renew Efforts to Fill Presidency Amid Israeli Attacks, Reports Reuters

By Laila Bassam and Tom Perry

BEIRUT – Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon has sparked renewed efforts by prominent Lebanese politicians to address the ongoing presidential vacuum that has persisted for two years. This move aims to restore functionality to the state amid escalating conflicts.

Since October 2022, Lebanon has lacked a president and a fully empowered cabinet, primarily due to a power struggle involving Hezbollah. The powerful Shiite militant group, along with its allies, has insisted that the presidency — a position traditionally reserved for a Maronite Christian — should be allotted to their ally, Suleiman Frangieh.

The recent developments surrounding Hezbollah, particularly following the death of its leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, have brought the presidential situation back into the spotlight. Shiite Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an important ally of Hezbollah, indicated this week that he is open to discussions, stating to Prime Minister Najib Mikati his support for electing a president who would not pose a challenge to any party.

A Hezbollah official confirmed that Berri has been tasked with negotiating on behalf of the group regarding the presidential matter.

In Lebanon, the presidency is determined by a vote in the 128-seat parliament. No single political group holds enough seats to dictate a choice, necessitating cooperation among rival factions to elect a candidate.

After a meeting on Wednesday with Berri and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, Mikati — a Sunni Muslim — issued a joint statement advocating for the election of a “consensus president” to reassure the population and alleviate concerns.

The statement refrained from naming specific candidates.

Israel’s extensive military campaign against Hezbollah has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities in Lebanon since mid-September and has displaced approximately one million people.

Wael Abu Faour, a prominent member of Jumblatt’s party, expressed to reporters that electing a consensus president would signal to the international community that Lebanon has a strong government capable of negotiating a ceasefire.

He clarified that the meeting between the three leaders did not signal the creation of a new political alliance, noting that discussions about the presidency were engaging various factions, including Christian parties.

The Lebanese Forces, a significant Christian group and staunch opponent of Hezbollah, called on Monday for the election of a president, emphasizing that this was the only means for the “state to assume its responsibilities on its own,” implying criticism of Hezbollah’s considerable arms reserves.

Lebanon’s last president, Michel Aoun, was a former army leader and an ally of Hezbollah.

A senior Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Western and Arab nations have been encouraging Lebanese politicians to elect a president. This development is also viewed as beneficial for Hezbollah, as resolving the political stalemate would allow the state to shoulder more of the burden created by the ongoing crisis with Israel.

Abu Faour further remarked that the three leaders discussed strategies to prevent internal tensions in Lebanon resulting from the displacement of hundreds of thousands from Hezbollah-controlled regions to other areas.