Report: Berri Backs Franjieh Despite Geagea's Support for Aoun
Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that he backed the candidacy of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh despite the Lebanese Forces endorsement of Change and Reform bloc chief lawmaker Michel Aoun for the presidency, al-Akhbar daily reported Tuesday.
Sources close to Berri told the newspaper that the speaker will not announce his official stance before carefully studying the latest deal struck between LF chief Samir Geagea and Aoun.
On Monday, Geagea pulled out of the presidential race in favor of Aoun in an attempt to close Christian ranks and resolve the country's 20-month political deadlock.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.
The sources said that Berri backs Franjieh and that his ally Hizbullah would not change his stance.
The speaker said last week that he gave the MPs of his bloc the freedom to chose the candidate they wanted if Geagea backed Aoun and al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri continued to back Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.
Hariri nominated Franjieh for president last month without consulting Geagea, who is his ally in the March 14 alliance.
The move angered both Geagea and Aoun, who is Franjieh's ally in the March 8 coalition.
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