Report: Hezbollah, FPM mull replacing Franjieh with Naji al-Bustani

Hezbollah and the Free Patriotic Movement are discussing the possibility of nominating ex-minister Naji al-Bustani for the presidency instead of Suleiman Franjieh, “the current candidate of the Axis of Defiance,” the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday.

“It is known that al-Bustani, a lawyer, is a supporter of the Defiance camp and had represented Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar, one of the four generals who had been detained in the international probe into the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri,” the daily said.

Moreover, Nidaa al-Watan quoted sources close to Hezbollah as saying that FPM chief Jebran Bassil is “preparing with Hezbollah for a new presidential intersection that requires some time.”

Hezbollah and the FPM have been engaged in dialogue for several weeks now, following months of strained relations over the presidential file and the caretaker Cabinet’s powers.