Pessimism surges after Le Drian's visit to Lebanon

The outcome of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian’s visit to Beirut was not encouraging, informed sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Saturday.

A Lebanese political leader meanwhile told the daily that Le Drian will return to Lebanon in July.

A prominent political figure for his part quoted a diplomat as saying that “no president will be elected before at least a year.”

And in remarks to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, informed sources said the presidential vacuum will not end before at least three months.

“The French envoy asked Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to call for a dialogue, but the latter did not show responsiveness. Speaker Nabih Berri meanwhile told him that he encourages dialogue but will not call for it because he became a party after supporting (Suleiman) Franjieh’s nomination,” al-Akhbar newspaper said.

Also according to al-Akhbar, Le Drian told Hezbollah during the visit that the rival camp has said that “the last session was against Franjieh” and that “they are willing to discuss a third choice.”

Moreover, the daily said that France does not intend to sponsor a dialogue conference that resembles the Doha or the Saint-Cloud conferences.