Franjieh Rejects Possibility of Forming Technocrat Government

Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh noted on Monday that past experiences have demonstrated that a technocrat government in Lebanon will fail in meeting its objectives.

He said before a delegation of Marada Movement members from the region of Keserouan: “A technocrat government cannot be formed during this critical time in Lebanon.”

On his decision to boycott the parliamentary consultations on April 5 and 6, he stated: “I took the choice out of my own convictions.”

“The disparity in my position from that of my allies is not a sign of differences with them, but we will continue forward as a united political group,” stressed the Marada Movement leader.

The MP boycotted the consultations over his objection to MP Tammam Salam's nomination as PM-designate, saying that he “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,” he said in a released statement.

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

Franjieh added before the Keserouan delegation that “the other camp will exploit the media, during the process to form a new government, to make it seem that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is obstructing the process.”

“Aoun is not difficult to deal with and our opponents believe that facilitating the consultations is a form of compromise on their interests,” he remarked.

He revealed that he will take part in the government-formation process and “granting it a vote of confidence is linked to its composition and general principles.”