Report: Initiative to Nominate Franjieh First Victim of al-Nimr's Execution

The thorny presidential file and the stalled initiative settlement to nominate Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as head of state, could become more complicated following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, As Safir daily reported on Monday.

“The regional conflicts following the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr could reflect on the file of electing a president,” prominent sources of March 8 told the daily on condition of anonymity.

They pointed out that the initiative to nominate Franjieh for the presidency might be the first “victim” to the execution of al-Nimr.

“The current regional atmospheres following the execution are no more favorable for any settlements now, and it will be more difficult to distance Lebanon from the inflamed regional situation now,” added the source.

Saudi Arabia on Saturday executed 47 people convicted of "terrorism", including a prominent Shiite cleric, al-Nimr who the Saudi interior ministry said were behind anti-government protests.

On the other hand, sources following up closely on the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal said that it is “unlikely for the execution of al-Nimr to be a reason for halting dialogue between the two parties. Since the inception of the dialogue, both parties had agreed that it will carry on regardless of any incidents that take place outside Lebanon's borders.”

However, they “did not rule out that the political productivity of the sessions might gradually diminish in light of the dire circumstances in the region.”

An initiative emerged lately by (Saudi backed) Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri suggesting the nomination of Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh (of the March 8) for the presidency. The nomination has been met with reservations from the Kataeb Party, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday launched one of his fiercest verbal attacks to date against Saudi Arabia over its execution of al-Nimr, as he warned against turning the issue into a Sunni-Shiite conflict.

Relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite-ruled Iran have been strained for decades, with Riyadh frequently accusing Tehran of interfering in Arab affairs.

Both countries are also divided over a raft of issues, namely the nearly five-year war in Syria, where Iran is allied with the regime of embattled President Bashar Assad, and Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition is battling Iran-backed rebels.