September consultations: Possible breakthrough in Lebanon's impasse

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Wednesday after meeting French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian in Maarab that the French diplomat did not discuss presidential names with him.

"We did not discuss new names," Geagea said, stressing that the talks are confidential.

Speaker Nabih Berri who had met Le Drian on Tuesday also did not disclose what was discussed but revealed that the meeting was "good" and that "an opening has pierced through" Lebanon's power vacuum, without elaborating, while the Free Patriotic Movement revealed in a statement Le Drian's proposal.

"Le Drian would return in September to restart consultations in order to agree on a presidential program before agreeing on an eligible candidate," the FPM said, adding that "successive parliamentary sessions would follow."

Bassil responded positively to the proposal, the statement said.

Le Drian had earlier met with Kataeb party leader Sami Gemayel. The latter did not give a clear answer regarding September's consultations, as he preferred to agree with the opposition on a unified position.