Report: Berri Says Hariri's Bid to Nominate Franjieh is 'More than Serious'
Speaker Nabih Berri praised Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri's initiative to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.
His visitors told the daily: “It is an honest nomination and his initiative is more than serious.”
Hariri has been leading efforts to nominate Franjieh as president as part of a greater initiative aimed at ending the political deadlock in Lebanon.
The main problem lies in the stances of Maronite figures, added Berri of the nomination.
The Christian blocs of the Kataeb, Change and Reform, and Lebanese Forces have expressed reservations over Franjieh's nomination.
“We were criticized for saying that the main hurdle is being posed by the Maronite forces, but reality has proven that we were right,” added the speaker according to his visitors.
“If the four main Maronite leaders do not reach an agreement over of a president, then we should search for a new figure,” he explained.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
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