Who Is Michel Edde, And Why Should He Be President?

When even the American press is starting to sound conciliatory, you know that compromise is in the air over Presidential negotiations.

The most prominent octogenarian currently being mentioned is Michel Edde. His father was held important government positions -- in the Ottoman Empire! Everyone who is excited to begin the Michel Edde era, please raise your hands now.

The problem with Edde is that he risks perpetuating the deadlock that has characterized Lebanese politics for the last year. On the major issues of the day -- the international tribunal, Syrian influence in Lebanon, Hezbollah's weapons -- he can be expected to do nothing at all. That is, after all, why he is a consensus candidate. The "consensus" is to do nothing.

That said, nothing is set in stone. If the negotiations were finished, the MPs would be at Parliament right now. But Hariri, Jumblatt, and Geagea should ask each other very seriously what their Parliamentary majority can expect to accomplish during a Michel Edde Presidency. And they should remember that coalitions that swept into power with grand ideals and then presided over a period of deadlock and stagnation are rarely rewarded by voters, come election time.