Mustaqbal Officials Meet with Hariri after Geagea's Support for Aoun
Al-Mustaqbal Movement officials were in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to hold talks with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri following the Lebanese Forces backing for Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun for the presidency.
Several newspapers said that a delegation from al-Mustaqbal traveled to Riyadh on Monday night.
The movement that is led by Hariri is expected to announce its stance from LF chief Samir Geagea's endorsement of Aoun's candidacy following the weekly meeting of its parliamentary bloc on Tuesday.
Geagea’s backing for Aoun, his rival, is aimed at undermining the chances of Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh to reach the country's top Christian post.
In a surprise move late last year, Hariri and Franjieh struck a deal following talks in Paris for the Mustaqbal leader to back the Marada chief for the presidency in return for Hariri to become prime minister.
Franjieh said following a visit to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Monday night that he would stay in the presidential race.
High-ranking officials in al-Mustaqbal told al-Joumhouria newspaper that Geagea's support for Aoun “does not target us.”
They said the movement will study its next move following the new development on the presidential file.
Baabda Palace has been vacant since May 2014.
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