LBCI taps into details of Jumblatt and Bassil meeting

The meeting, which brought together Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt and Free Patriotic Movement leader Gebran Bassil on Friday night, was not decided at the last minute and will be followed by a series of dialogue meetings between the two parties.

However, what has caused such a rapprochement?

First, both sides believe that dialogue between various components in Lebanon is more essential than ever.

Moreover, the unprecedented economic crisis the country is experiencing is a significant factor that the sides are mutually worried about.

The dialogue between Bassil and Walid Jumblatt and then Bassil and Taymour Jumblatt broke the ice between the two parties as both sides were convinced by the following:

For either side, it is clear that the current parliament composition will not produce a new president that any of the parties want in light of the existing division among the political powers and the inability to secure at least two-thirds of the Parliament’s votes for any candidate.

Thus the parties agree that there is no way out of the presidential crisis without consensus. But what is the consensus about?

According to the available information, the roadmap Gebran Bassil and Taymour Jumblatt are working on, which has been "blessed" by Walid Jumblatt, believes that today's presidential equation is wrong.

The same information added that the president's specifications imposed by the need for a straightforward rescue plan for the county could overthrow all proposed candidates, whether they are declared candidates or not.

The country’s presidency, government, and management for the next six years are more important than any candidate from this party or that. 

Today, what is more important than who the next president is; is the political consensus on the president’s program.

The two parties reject any president who continues the political approach that has been in place for decades and the continuous obstructive performance, especially since 2019.

Jumblatt and Bassil realize that with the arrival of such a president with the same political approach as before, the crisis will erupt again, and the country will remain in the same chaos. This is important given that the economic and financial situation cannot tolerate further delay. Thus, expediting dialogue for consensus and getting out of the tunnel has become a priority.

Therefore, the ongoing PSP-FPM dialogue at the senior level will continue between Gebran Bassil and Taymor Jumblatt.