According to Salem Zahran, the Director of the Media Focal Center, the streets in Lebanon don’t move automatically and require a political push. He stated in an interview with “Radio Rama” that political forces wouldn’t engage in confrontation on the streets at present, and we wouldn’t see more than what we saw that day. Zahran explained that it’s possible Speaker Nabih Berri would call for a session to elect a president for the republic following Ramadan. Zahran mentioned French pressure to produce a president, but because of local parliamentary blocs and external factors, Zahran doubts there will be a president in the next two months. The Director also referred to the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran as a “two-month engagement” that might lead to political, economic, and social contracts. However, Zahran does not believe that Lebanon will benefit from it anytime soon.
Zahran said in an interview with “Radio Rama” that, “The political forces will not go towards confrontation in the street at present, as we will not see more than what we saw today.”
He pointed out, “It is likely that Speaker Nabih Berri will call for a session to elect a president for the republic following the month of Ramadan.
Zahran explained, “There is French pressure to try to produce a president for the republic, but the local accounts of the parliamentary blocs at home and the complex external reality indicate that there will be no president for the republic in the next two months.”
Zahran described the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran as a “two-month engagement.”
Zahran considered that this engagement “may culminate in a political, economic and social contract, but Lebanon will be the last to benefit from it.”
In conclusion, Lebanon continues to experience political instability and a lack of government leadership due to the ongoing presidential vacancy. Salem Zahran has shed light on the unpredictable nature of the country’s streets, which require a political push to spur action. Though there is pressure from France and the possibility of a session to elect a president following Ramadan, Zahran believes that the parliamentary blocs at home and external complexities will hinder progress. The recent engagement between Saudi Arabia and Iran may hold promise for political, economic, and social contracts, but Zahran warns that Lebanon may be the last to benefit. Only time will tell what the future holds for Lebanon’s governance and stability.