Despite all the activities occurring in the Lebanese scene, there are no signs of a political solution.
Among them are the head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil's "Presidential Priorities Paper" initiative and the meetings he holds to discuss the possibility of deciding on a third candidate other than Marada leader Sleiman Franjieh and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun.
The Lebanese Forces party, on the other hand, is reviving its movement starting from the Christian scene to a broader direction by discussing the possibility of presenting a new initiative, or what MP Melhem Riachy called "Plan B," especially given that this coincides with a meeting that the leader of the Lebanese Forces party Samir Geagea held with MP Neamat Efrem. The LF party also believes that any new step must be coordinated and discussed with MP Michel Moawad.
Forced understanding?
To strengthen each party's vision in a way that puts it ahead of the other party, the two Christian parties have launched a movement to assess which party can draw in more parliamentary blocs.
The two sides do not rule out the possibility of agreeing on a single issue should Hezbollah insist on Franjieh's nomination.
At that point, the LF and the FPM will be compelled to agree to cut off Franjieh on the grounds that he cannot be elected due to the opposition of the two biggest Christian blocs.
These activities fill the political void rather than achieving the presidential election or a resolution.
Noting that any genuine and significant rapprochement between the Christian forces could represent a significant political and electoral development, which would also be a quantum leap in terms of the elections.
This is particularly true in the event of a rapprochement between the FPM and the LF or if one of them chooses a different political course, like Bassil or Geagea, for example, deciding to support a candidate who can win support from others.
Whether through his meetings with the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party or other parties, Bassil's effort to gather as many political positions as possible that intersect with him is apparent.
Additionally, he is attempting to either meet with Geagea or take political action that would allow them to settle on a middle-ground candidate.
Saudi Arabia and France
Holding a quadripartite meeting in the French capital, Paris, is still anticipated based on these internal movements. The meeting may be postponed for two weeks, according to information conflicting with some reports that say it will happen in the middle of this month.
In this regard, sources following up on the matter reveal that a Saudi delegation interested in the Lebanese dossier visited the French capital over the past two weeks and met with officials there.
The Saudi position in this meeting was crystal clear in their ongoing interest in the issue of the aid fund and how to distribute it, as well as their desire to finish the distribution process of the allotted amount, of which half has already been distributed. At the same time, the discussion centered on how to spend the other half.
Regarding the political track, it cannot be said that there is a clear Saudi tendency to meddle in political affairs or the presidential file, going by what the follow-up sources have to say.
In a more concrete sense, Saudi Arabia avoided having a lengthy conversation about any candidate or how to deliver him at this point.
Western diplomatic sources view this as an indication of Saudi Arabia's unwillingness to participate in this matter.
Instead, Saudi Arabia might prefer to wait and see what events will bear, what the Lebanese will offer, and what the French will be able to secure in a way that will satisfy Saudi Arabia. It can only then become more involved.