FPM Delegation Meets Helou, Says His Stance 'Opened Door for Agreements'

A delegation from MP Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement held talks Thursday with Democratic Gathering bloc MP and presidential candidate Henri Helou.

“The stance that was voiced in MP Helou's statement was responsible and it reflects a great patriotic sense and it opened the door for agreements,” Education Minister Elias Bou Saab of the FPM said after the meeting.

Helou had on Wednesday announced that his presidential nomination will continue “as long as it is beneficial for the country's interest,” adding that the final decision “will be announced at the appropriate time.”

“We respect MP Helou's choice and decisions,” Bou Saab added.

“The final stance will be taken after a meeting between (Democratic Gathering chief) MP Walid Jumblat and General Michel Aoun,” he said.

In response to a reporter's question, the minister underlined that “the new presidential tenure must be built on partnership,” noting that “dialogue is ongoing with everyone to achieve consensus in the coming period.”

He also described Speaker Nabih Berri as “a real partner in this country,” emphasizing that the FPM is “keen on maintaining communication with him.”

Helou for his part said the final decision on his nomination would be announced after a meeting for the Democratic Gathering bloc.

After initially endorsing Helou's nomination, Jumblat shifted his support for Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh after the latter was endorsed by ex-PM Saad Hariri in late 2015.

But after Hariri formally endorsed Aoun's nomination last Thursday, Jumblat has voiced support for what he described as a “settlement” and several members of his bloc are expected to vote for Aoun.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri had launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Hizbullah's ally Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

The supporters of Aoun's nomination have argued that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.