Choosing The Lebanese President. Part 2
The internal negotiations are part of an opaque and complex process that leaves the people clueless and powerless.
A round table minus the table…
We know Mr. Hariri is talking with Mr. Berri. We also know that Mr. Hariri is talking with Mr. Aoun. That’s all. With the exception of a few clarifying statements here and there, we the Lebanese are in the dark when it comes to negotiations on who the next President will be.
Messrs Hariri and Berri are often portrayed as the doves who are willing to make compromises “if Lebanon’s highest interests are served”. They are both influenced by Saudi Arabia and that new entrant to doveland, France. The other parties, namely Hezbollah, Jumblat and Geagea are often portrayed as hardliners who represent the interests of outside parties (USA on one side, and Syria & Iran on the other) who are bent on playing the zero sum game of Middle Eastern hegemony.
All this results in a process so delicate the slightest unknown might break it. Occasionally some light is cast (like Mr. Ghassan Tueni’s insinuation of the inclusion of a third March 14 candidate). But in general, the Lebanese really can’t tell with certainty what will happen after November 24, as any of the extremes is likely.
Nevertheless, game theory and self interest suggest that the most plausible outcome will be a last-minute settlement. Paradoxically, that is the only thing most of the Lebanese seem to agree on.
Do you like this post? Would you like to be always updated with new posts on this website? If so, please subscribe to this blog's RSS feed? (tell me more)Share This Post:
Print it: Email it:
-->
Discussion
Comments are disallowed for this post.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I blog in The Beirut Spring about Lebanese society and politics. I started in February 2005 after the killing of P.M. Rafik Hariri.
Latest Posts
Lebanese Bloggers
Middle Eastern Bloggers
Blog Featured In
Today In Lebanon (NOW)
Naharnet RSS Feed
Yalibnan RSS Feed
Latest Lebanese News
RSS Subscribers
Categories
- No categories
Choosing a president by simple majority is NOT a nuclear option. It is the CONSTITUTION. We have a parliament and representatives that need to sit down and cast their votes! Period!
I agree with Imad! I never heard that a majority can’t select its own candidate!
[...] For Mustapha the negotiations taking place between Lebanese parties to reach a consensual president “are part of an opaque and complex process that leaves the people clueless and powerless.” He states: We know Mr. Hariri is talking with Mr. Berri. We also know that Mr. Hariri is talking with Mr. Aoun. That’s all. With the exception of a few clarifying statements here and there, we the Lebanese are in the dark when it comes to negotiations on who the next President will be. [...]
[...] • I argued in November 7 that All of the opposition’s threats are just bluffs • On November 6 I asked: Who on earth choses the Lebanese President? • I also detected on October 6 a certain double-speak on Aoun from Mr. Nassrallah [...]