Report: Hizbullah to Convince Aoun to Accept Franjieh's Nomination

Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh is scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday with Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun, reported An Nahar daily on Tuesday.

A prominent ministerial source told the daily that the talks will kick off efforts by Hizbullah to persuade its ally, Aoun, to accept Franjieh's potential presidential nomination.

Aoun is a candidate himself and Hizbullah has so far been committed to his candidacy.

“Hizbullah will seek to convince Aoun to accept the political settlement aimed at resolving the deadlock in the country, because the deal is greater than all sides,” added the source.

“It is a bitter pill, but we have to take it because the country can no longer tolerate the current situation,” it continued.

An agreement with Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea is also necessary, it stated.

The ministerial source revealed that Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri “does not want to elect a new head of state without reaching an understanding with Geagea,” who is a presidential candidate himself.

Franjieh's chances to reach the Baabda Palace had recently made a dramatic surge in the wake of a Paris meeting between him and Hariri.

The nomination has created tensions among the Christian camps of the Kataeb Party, LF, and Free Patriotic Movement, who all oppose the manner in which Franjieh's candidacy is being proposed.

The candidacy has also created a divide between the Mustaqbal Movement and LF, both allies in the March 14 camp.

M.T.

D.A.