Positive contacts between Lebanon’s political blocs bore fruit this week, producing a first agreement to re-elect current Speaker Nabih Berri as head of the new parliament and to choose his deputy from the “Strong Lebanon bloc” headed by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil.
“There is currently a general positive mood created by ongoing contacts among political parties,” MP Michel Moussa told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Moussa said it was obvious that the next deputy speaker will be from the Strong Lebanon bloc, which would name one of its Christian Orthodox deputies for the position.
However, he added: “All options are still under consideration.”
Other sources also confirmed the presence of an understanding concerning the next speaker and his deputy.
They said there are currently two candidates for the position of deputy Speaker, MP Elie Ferzli and former Education Minister MP Elias Bou Saab, both from Bassil’s parliamentary bloc.
However, there is still no final decision over who will be named for the post, the sources added.
Deputies will meet on May 23 to elect their speaker, his deputy, the parliamentary bureau and members of its various committees.
“Efforts are underway to hold this vote without any obstacles,” the sources said.
A few days ago, Prime Minister Saad Hariri had said that he does not oppose Berri’s re-election as speaker, a post he has occupied since 1992.
"If Speaker Nabih Berri is a candidate, then I support him.”
After completing parliament appointments, attention in Lebanon will be turned to who will head a new cabinet.
Parties are currently trying to set pre-conditions before naming the next premier.
The process to name a PM is expected to kick off at the end of this month, a government source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Newly elected MP Fadi Saad, from the Lebanese Forces bloc said that the “Strong Republic" parliamentary bloc will not name Hariri to form the next government without a prior political agreement.”
