Franjieh Boycotts Parliamentary Consultations: Salam Confirmed His Political Affiliation

Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh announced on Friday that he will boycott the parliamentary consultations to name a premier, explaining it is because the runner up for premiership Beirut MP Tammam Salam “is affiliated with a political group”.

"I have decided to boycott the parliamentary consultations and allow the members of the Free United Lebanon bloc to choose the nominee they want,” Franjieh said in a released statement.

The northern leader elaborated: “I respect and appreciate Salam and his prestigious family with whom we have an old relationship, but announcing his nomination from the (al-Mustaqbal Movement head MP Saad Hariri's) Center House on Thursday has clearly confirmed his affiliation with a political group”.

Meanwhile, Franjieh said that his bloc's stance towards giving the cabinet the vote of confidence will be decided upon its formation, depending on its members and on the ministerial Policy Statement.

He noted: “Our position, which differs from that of our allies, will not have any effect on our united political stance. Our alliance is lasting and continuous”.

“We understand their position in these delicate circumstances Lebanon and the region are going through”.

The bloc's Salim Karam stated that he will also boycott the parliamentary consultations, "in line with the stance voiced by Franjieh”.

LBCI said that MP Stephan Douaihy will be absent from the talks while al-Manar television reported that MP Emil might attend the consultations on Saturday.

The March 14 forces announced on Thursday that they have chosen Salam as their nominee for premiership.

"The lawmakers of the alliance and of Jamaa Islamiya will officially inform President Michel Suleiman about their candidate during Friday's parliamentary consultations,” said al-Mustaqbal bloc head MP Fouad Saniora after a March 14 broad meeting at the Center House which was exclusively dedicated to discussing this issue.

Salam, who later joined the meeting after arriving from a trip to Riyadh where he met with ex-PM Hariri and several Saudi figures, thanked the convened figures for their nomination, hoping that this would "reflect in the best interest of Lebanon".

The Beirut MP is most likely to become the PM of the next cabinet after the March 14 forces, the Progressive Socialist Party, the Change and Reform bloc, and AMAL Movement have announced that they will name him for premiership.