What is Shiite Duo's stance on Joseph Aoun's election?
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are still rejecting Army chief Joseph Aoun's presidential nomination, al-Jadeed TV reported on Wednesday.
“The Shiite Duo is maintaining its stance that the army chief’s election requires a constitutional amendment and they will not agree to a constitutional amendment,” al-Jadeed said.
“As long as Suleiman Franjieh is a candidate, our choice is still Suleiman Franjieh, but we are open to several names, including Maj. Gen. Elias al-Bayssari, and we will not elect a president who constitutes a violation of the constitution and sovereignty together,” Shiite Duo sources told the channel, apparently referring to Aoun.
The constitution stipulates that any first-grade civil servant like Aoun should leave their post at least six months prior to being elected president.
“The Shiite Duo’s meetings are continuing and coordination with the Free Patriotic Movement is ongoing,” al-Jadeed reported, adding that Hezbollah and Amal will not announce their candidate prior to the presidential election session.
Al-Jadeed later reported that MP Mohammad Raad of Hezbollah expressed in his meeting Wednesday with French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian that “Hezbollah will not stand in the way of Lebanese consensus over a president.”
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