Report: Aoun Likely to Reach Presidency over Saudi, U.S. Backing
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun is highly likely to reach the presidency after a U.S. and Saudi rapprochement with him, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.
The daily said Washington believes that Lebanon needs a strong president, who is capable of discussing with Hizbullah about its arms or the defense strategy rather than provoking it.
No one other than Aoun, who is Hizbullah's top ally in the March 8 camp, can play this role, it quoted sources as saying.
The sources also said that Saudi Arabia, which similar to the U.S. backs the March 14 alliance, has improved its ties with the FPM and a similar rapprochement was made between Aoun and al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri.
Such a rapprochement wouldn't have taken place without a Saudi-U.S. green light, they told al-Akhbar.
“The dream of the presidency went out of the impossibility circle to reach the circle of possibility,” the sources said.
President Michel Suleiman's term ends in May 2014. No one has yet officially announced his candidacy for the post.
The Constitution says the parliament should start holding sessions in March 25 to elect a new head of state.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/119603 |