April 16, 2023, the Lebanese Lira rate today stands at 1 USD to 97,300 LBP, as the black market has experienced slow movement over the past two days. Despite recent fluctuations, the market seems to have taken a pause, with attention shifting toward the latest political developments.
Five-Nation Group Meeting on Presidential Crisis
A meeting has been scheduled among the five-nation group on Lebanon, which includes the U.S., France, KSA, Qatar, and Egypt, to address the Lebanese presidential crisis. According to the al-Anbaa news portal of the Progressive Socialist Party, the level of representation at the meeting might be raised, underlining the importance of the discussions.
Potential Change in Presidential Nomination
Political sources have revealed to al-Anbaa that the Amal and Hezbollah duo might give up on supporting Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh’s nomination for the presidency. Instead, they may opt for a less provocative candidate to MP Jebran Bassil and other Christian blocs, such as the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb. The potential candidate should also have Saudi acceptance.
Arab Countries’ Efforts to End Presidential Vacuum
Influential Arab countries aim to end Lebanon’s presidential vacuum before mid-June. The current focus is on returning Syria to the Arab League and preparing for Riyadh’s Arab Summit on May 19. According to a diplomatic source cited by the al-Liwaa newspaper, Arab nations see an urgent need to fill the presidential void in Lebanon, given the financial, banking, monetary, and administrative challenges that require the restructuring of state institutions, starting from the Presidency to a new government with a reformist agenda.
As the Lebanese Lira rate remains uncertain and the black market slows down, the country’s future hinges on the outcome of these political meetings and the efforts of the five-nation group to address the presidential crisis. The upcoming weeks will be crucial in determining Lebanon’s political and economic direction.
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Karim.
