Parliament Speaker election: Will FPM vote for Berri?
Hizbullah has begun an attempt to bridge the gap between its allies in order to secure more votes for Nabih Berri as a Speaker for the new Parliament, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Monday.
The daily said it had learned from informed sources that "there is still hope" for the Free Patriotic Movement to change its stand on Berri's re-election, as the FPM has sensed positivity from the Shiite Duo regarding the nomination of MP Elias Bou Saab as a Deputy Speaker.
Bou Saab had visited Berri on Saturday to inform him of his candidacy. "The meeting was positive and I was satisfied," Bou Saab said.
The FPM denied any Speaker-Deputy Speaker bargain that consists of the FPM voting for Berri in return for electing Bou Saab as Deputy Speaker, while al-Akhbar said it had learned that at least four MPs from the FPM will vote for Berri.
Meanwhile, Berri's sources have told al-Akhbar that 60 to 64 votes for Berri have been secured so far.
He had won with 98 votes in 2018 with only 30 blank votes. Blank votes are expected to be higher on Tuesday as reformists MPs and the two largest Christian blocs in Parliament -- the FPM and the Lebanese Forces -- have said they won't vote for Berri, the only nominee for the post.
Hizbullah, Amal, al-Marada, the Progressive Socialist Party, the Akkar Development bloc, the Tashnag party and al-Ahbash will vote for Berri, the daily said.
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