Franjieh Says Won't Accept President Elected through Aoun-Geagea Deal

Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh announced Thursday that he will not endorse any president elected as a result of an agreement between Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, whose parties are currently engaged in unprecedented talks.

“I have remarks over the way Aoun is managing the presidential battle because one must differentiate between openness towards rivals and seeking a role for rivals in securing his election as president,” said Franjieh in an interview on LBCI television.

“We want the name of the next president to come from the General, not from his agreement with Dr. Geagea,” he added.

Asked about his recent announcement that the country will not have a president anytime soon, Franjieh said: “I do not convey Syrian messages -- not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow -- and when I said that there won't be a president soon, it was the result of political analysis and nothing else.”

As for accusations that his political camp is obstructing the elections, the Marada chief said “they're saying that Iran, Syria and Hizbullah do not want presidential elections because they want us to disagree with General Aoun for the sake of a president who is not even 50% close to us.”

He was referring to candidates described as “centrists.”

“We are not willing to engage in a dispute with our ally for the sake of electing a centrist figure as president,” Franjieh added.

“If General Aoun endorses a centrist president amid a positive international atmosphere, such a president would be elected, but I won't vote for him,” he pointed out.

Asked about his own chances to reach the presidential palace, Franjieh said: “I'm not asking anyone for the presidency and I believe that only the political equation could make my election possible.”

Commenting on his recent contacts with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri, Franjieh said “they are not aimed at paving the way for anything and they're nothing but normal human communication.”

“I'm March 8's candidate if General Aoun does not want the presidency for a reason or another,” he went on to say.

A 20th parliamentary session to elect a new president was adjourned Wednesday to April 2 over lack of quorum.

President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor. Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps and electoral rivalry between Aoun and Geagea have thwarted the polls.

Y.R.