Ceasefire 'immunized' Lebanon, president will be elected on January 9, Berri says

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has ruled out a negative impact for Syria's events on Lebanon.

Berri told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Wednesday, that the developments in Syria are in Israel's interest, and that a U.S.-French brokered ceasefire reached last month has "immunized" Lebanon.

After the ceasefire was reached ending 13 months of clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, Berri called for a parliamentary session on January 9 to elect a new president, seeking to end more than two years without a head of state.

The country has been without a president since Michel Aoun's term ended in October 2022, with neither of the two main blocs -- Hezbollah and its opponents -- having the majority required to elect one, and unable to reach a consensus.

"A president will be elected on January 9," Berri said, vowing that the scheduled session will not be postponed.

Berri on Wednesday met with the ambassadors of the five-nation group on Lebanon, which comprises the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.

Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa said after the meeting that the presidential election session on January 9 will be open with consecutive rounds until a president is elected.