Reports: Le Drian didn't mention '3rd choice' to Berri and allies

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is “willing to call for consultations (over the presidential vote) according to his mechanism should the opposing blocs decide to participate,” al-Jadeed TV quoted sources as saying.

“If they don’t accept (to participate), nothing will change,” the sources added.

The French President’s Special Envoy to Lebanon Jean-Yves “Le Drian did not mention a third (presidential) choice in his meetings with Berri, MP Mohammad Raad and Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh,” the sources said.

“Le Drian only discussed the consultations mechanism, endorsing the vision of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on rejecting the format of dialogue and insisting on consultations,” the sources added.

Moreover, Berri was willing to “give up his chairmanship of dialogue and leave it to (Deputy Speaker) Elias Bou Saab based on a promise that the Quintet had made to him on convincing dialogue’s opponents to take part in it, but Geagea’s negativity reversed his decision and he again insisted on presiding over the dialogue,” the sources said.