Sethrida Geagea Expects Gathering 50 Votes in LF Leader's Favor as Party Envoys Continue Presidential Visits

Lebanese Forces delegates continued on Tuesday meeting with lawmakers over the presidential elections, as MP Sethrida Geagea announced that the LF chief might gather up to 50 votes in his favor during Wednesday's parliamentary session dedicated for the election of a new head of state.

Tuesday's meetings kicked off with talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in the Beirut neighborhood of Ain al-Tineh, and the latter revealed that his Development and Liberation MPs will attend Wednesday's session at the parliament to vote for a new president.

"The speaker assured that his parliamentary bloc will be the first to attend Wednesday's session to vote for a new president,” MP Geagea said after the meeting.

The MP added: “Of course we hope the speaker would vote for our nominee and he has praised (LF leader) Samir Geagea's candidacy in a telephone call with him.”

MP Geagea told reporters that the March 14 alliance insists on having a single candidate for presidency: “So far the LF leader is the coalition's nominee and it is too soon to talk about other options.”

"And we expect Geagea to receive at least 50 votes in the first round of voting,” she noted.

Later in the afternoon, the LF delegates met with MP Michel Murr, who said he will attend the scheduled parliamentary session on Wednesday, along with MP Nayla Tueni, to ensure quorum is met.

"We will follow our conscience and what serves Lebanon in casting our vote,” he pointed out.

A meeting also took place between a LF delegation and MPs Michel Pharaon and Serge Tor Sarkissian in the Beirut neighborhood of Ashrafieh.

And in the evening, the envoys met with MP Boutros Harb.

"We came to thank him for supporting the LF leader in his presidential bid,” MP Geagea said after the meeting.

Geagea's media office had announced earlier in the day that Harb assured the LF leader in a telephone call that he will stand by him in Wednesday's parliamentary session, congratulating him also on his presidential program.

Meanwhile, Harb underscored March 14's unity in supporting the coalition's principles.

"All the alliance's forces, (ex-Prime Minister) Saad Hariri, independent figures, the Kataeb party, and al-Mustaqbal Movement united to support the LF leader,” he stated, adding that Geagea is “of the main defendants of March 14's principles and has paid 11 years in jail a price for his values.”

Harb considered that one of a lawmaker's most important duties is electing a president.

"Not attending the parliamentary session contributes to obstructing the political system and subjecting Lebanon to dangers,” he said.

These visits come as LF delegates are holding talks with different leaders and parliamentary blocs to hand them Geagea's presidential program.

LF envoys have so far met with President Michel Suleiman, Premier Tammam Salam, ex-PM Najib Miqati, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, National Liberal Party leader MP Dory Chamoun, and the Jamaa Islamiya.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc and the Kataeb party announced their support to Geagea in his presidential bid.

And late on Tuesday evening, the March 14 alliance also agreed after a meeting at the Center House to support Geagea's nomination.

The March 14 alliance is yet to officially announce its nominee for office.

LF MP George Adwan commented on Monday that the coalition will reveal its stance before Wednesday's parliamentary session.

While Suleiman's tenure ends on May 25, the constitutional period to elect a new head of state began on March 25.

Geagea and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou are so far the only two candidates running in the elections.

Parliament is scheduled to convene on Wednesday in order to hold the polls amid concerns that the needed quorum will not be met.

S.D.B.

M.T./ Y.R.