Hariri and Saudi Arabia Seek to Break Monopoly of Christian Representation
Former President Michel Suleiman's visit to Saudi Arabia was orchestrated by al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri and came as a reaction to the new alliance that emerged between Lebanese Forces head Samir Geaega and former Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun, media reports said.
The visit aims to pave way for Christian figures, other than Geagea, to visit Saudi officials in a message to the latter that Riyadh has its doors open for any Christian figure of the March 14 alliance, added the reports.
Furthermore, Hariri is also readying a visit to Saudi Arabia for Kataeb party chief MP Sami Gemayel to hold meetings with prominent Saudi officials, they added.
Independent March 14 Christian figures are also set to visit the Kingdom in a bid to break what reports described as “monopolizing the representation of Christians” by Geagea and Aoun.
In parallel, former President Michel Suleiman had returned from Saudi Arabia where he met with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and other prominent figures.
He also held a meeting with Hariri where discussions focused on “the threats posed by the presidential vacuum and the need to end this abnormal and dangerous situation through electing a president as soon as possible,” a statement by Hariri's press office said.
Hariri had recently launched an initiative involving the nomination of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency in a bid to end the vacuum that has been running since May 2014.
But the initiative ran aground after it drew reservations and objections from the country's main Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party.
Hizbullah has also voiced reservations over the move and reiterated its commitment to the nomination of Change and Reform bloc chief Aoun, its main Christian ally.
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