BEIRUT: The presidential initiative proposed by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is still on the table, Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted as saying Sunday, but added that internal obstacles were preventing the plan from materializing.

“The initiative is still alive and the problem with electing a president is now an internal matter because outside powers have accepted it,” Berri was quoted by his visitors as saying. “What is required of us all is to resolve this matter.”

Berri also stressed that reactivating the Cabinet and holding government sessions would be a top priority next year.

“Activating ministerial work and holding Cabinet meetings will be the focus of attention as the New Year commences,” Berri said. “Yet the priority remains in the election of a president, because if it happens, this election solves all the problems.”

The initiative was launched by Hariri, the leader of the Future Movement, when he reportedly expressed his support for Marada Movement chief MP Sleiman Frangieh to the presidency during a Paris meeting last month. It was met with staunch opposition from the country’s three main Christian parties: the Free Patriotic Movement, Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party.

During Sunday Mass, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai said that he supported the initiative to end the presidential deadlock, regardless of the identity of the candidate. “We say that the initiative is supported and is serious. Yet we differ between the initiative and the name that is being considered.”

Rai called on the political blocs to discuss among themselves the proper candidate and end the vacuum that has crippled the state. “It is no longer permissible that we miss out on opportunities to elect a president ... the nation cannot stand it after a year and eight months of vacant constitutional institutions, ” Rai said.

He also called for developing cross-sectarian reforms that would bring together the private and public sectors. The reforms should alleviate poverty and implement developmental programs for the public good.

Commenting on Rai’s remarks, OTV, the mouthpiece of the Free Patriotic Movement, noted that the head of the Maronite Church had clarified his stance pertaining to the presidential issue. Yet, the station also noted that Rai had not indicated the name of the suitable president. OTV also reiterated FPM head MP Michel Aoun’s suggestion that the president should have popular representation among the people. The station was irked by Rai’s remarks on the matter during Christmas Mass.

During its Saturday evening’s news segment, the channel accused Rai of “Spiritual Alzheimer.” “The same foreign parties that are supporting the presidential initiative are those supporting Daesh in slaughtering the Christians of the Middle East” OTV’s news anchor said.

During the Mass, Rai called on political figures to take the responsible course of action over the vacancy especially after foreign political powers had converged and backed the presidential initiative.

Health Minister Wael Abu Faour claimed that Iran was stalling the presidential initiative. “If there was further enthusiasm by Iran concerning this matter ... we would have witnessed a different scene unfolding in the March 8 camp,” Abu Faour told Ash-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper.

But still he stressed that Hariri’s initiative was underway and was the only one being discussed.

“The initiative requires further discussion within the March 8 and March 14 blocs. Specifically between Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement on one side and the Marada Movement on the other,” adding that similar talks need to be made between Hariri and LF head Samir Geagea.