Kataeb MP Elias Hankach emphasized that Lebanon may finally be seeing a renewed push to resolve the long-standing presidential deadlock, attributing this momentum to both regional developments and the realization among key political actors that continued obstruction is no longer tenable.

Recently, attention has turned to Riyadh following a significant meeting between French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian and Royal Court Advisor Nizar Al-Aloula, with the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari. This meeting is anticipated to outline a new roadmap for Lebanon's presidential process, the details of which may become clearer in the coming days.

"It seems we are witnessing a renewed push on the presidential file, coinciding with developments in Saudi Arabia on one hand, and the progression of the war in Gaza on the other. It has become clear to both sides that neither has achieved a decisive outcome, leading the realization that the presidential deadlock must be broken. The group, which had disrupted the quorum and held the key to the parliament, has come to this conclusion. In this new climate, and with no ability to translate the outcomes of the war in the south into internal gains, along with increasing international pressure, this movement by the Quintet Committee aims to produce a president for the republic," Hankach told Addiyar newspaper. 

However, while hopeful, Hankach warned that any breakthrough would require mutual concessions, particularly from the opposition, which remains firm in its backing of Jihad Azour as their candidate.

"As long as the other team's candidate remains Suleiman Frangieh, and they are steadfast in their support, the opposition will continue to back Jihad Azour. The equation has not changed. While we are open to dialogue, negotiation, and elections, no one should expect the opposition to concede, especially after we had already compromised by withdrawing our candidate, Michel Mouawad, to engage with the opposition. This step did not influence their stance, and there will be no further concessions from the opposition unless the other side makes a concession first," he affirmed.

"As an opposition, we are working on consultations and discussions with more than a hundred MPs in parliament. The group that was absent from the talks, which were intended to chart a roadmap for the presidential election, is the same group that is calling for dialogue," he pointed out. "It is clear they have no intention of dialogue, or else they would have participated in the meetings we held in parliament as part of the initiative launched by the opposition recently."

On the continued escalation on the southern front and Israel's ongoing threats of a broader war with Lebanon, Hankach stressed that "this war has not yielded any benefit for Lebanon."

Regarding the arrest of former Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, Hankach said, "This case is in the hands of the judiciary, and the Lebanese judiciary is now facing a major test. It must not limit the matter to Salameh alone. The time has come for the judiciary to rise up against political interference in its work, to be independent of all political interventions, and to perform its duties as it should. The issue should not be confined to Riad Salameh because there are others who were in power and are equally responsible."