Berri meets Bassil, Quint ambassadors over presidential file
The ambassadors of the five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, met Wednesday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.
Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa said the presidential election session on January 9 will be open with consecutive rounds until a president is elected.
U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson told journalists that she feels "positive".
Parliament is scheduled to convene on January 9 to elect a new president, seeking to end more than two years without a head of state.
The country has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one, and unable to reach a consensus.
"A president will be elected on January 9," Berri told Asharq al-Awsat, in remarks published Wednesday, vowing that the scheduled session will not be postponed.
Berri later met with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil who said the efforts are serious and "things are going well."
"We will, God willing, have a president on January 9," Bassil said after the meeting.
11 December 2024, 17:45
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It is an insult to every Lebanese & Tueni memory that future of Lebanon is being decided by dean of political mafia, Hizb appointed prime minster & his Vichy government. Many current MPs including FPM were elected by force of arm (Assad 90% election win) and do not represent people aspirations. Berri & Miquati failed to call on army to disarm Hizb prior to Israel invasion after Hizb headquarters & massive arm storage were bombed. That would have prevented millions from being displaced and massive destruction & losses. Hizb arms have no other purpose than imposing its will, hegemony & usefulness to Iran tyrants spreading a culture of death & indoctrination opposed to Lebanon democracy & culture. All sovereign MPs must immediately resign, support Cedar Revolution II for no arms outside army and call for new parliamentary elections based on clear plans for Lebanon future & reforms. New parliament must elect president.
