Mustaqbal to Meet LF Monday to Endorse Geagea's Presidential Bid
Al-Mustaqbal movement is expected voice its support for Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's presidential bid, An Nahar newspaper reported on Sunday, as reports said representatives of the two parties will meet on Monday.
An Nahar said al-Mustaqbal would officially adopt Geagea's candidacy within 48 hours.
Later on Sunday, LBCI television and MTV said officials from al-Mustaqbal and the LF were scheduled to meet on Monday.
"Ex-PM Saad Hariri has called LF leader Samir Geagea and told him 'this is the first phone call to greet our presidential candidate on the occasion of Easter,'" MTV later reported.
The reports come in light of a second meeting held between al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri's adviser, Nader Hariri, and Geagea in Maarab.
An Nahar said that the meeting focused on the “appropriate mechanism to announce al-Mustaqbal's stance that is keen to safeguard the unity of the March 14 alliance.”
Hariri's envoy had previously held a meeting with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who had reportedly informed him that Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun will not announce his candidacy for the presidency if there was no political consensus on him.
Al-Mustaqbal's decision was also taken after a meeting held between representatives from the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb party.
The three-hour meeting between the LF and Kataeb's officials, former Minister Salim al-Sayegh and Joseph Abou Khalil, was held in Maarab.
LF officials have been holding talks with different parties and leaders in the country to hand them over LF leader Geagea's presidential program, and to discuss the upcoming elections.
On Wednesday, Geagea announced a presidential program that focused on “restoring the authority of the state against the proliferation of weapons during a time of regional unrest.”
He is the sole politician to have officially announced his candidacy for the polls, whose first round is scheduled to be held on April 23.
The election is not expected to be an easy process amid a lack of agreement on a consensual candidate.
President Michel Suleiman's six-year tenure ends on May 25.
-H.K./Y.R.
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