Geagea Expresses Pessimism over Presidential Crisis, Holds Onto Candidacy

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea held onto his candidacy for the presidential run, considering that the Baabda Palace post is “decaying” due to the ongoing vacuum.

“I will not withdraw my candidacy until we are offered an alternative to end the presidential deadlock,” Geagea said in an interview published in the Jordanian newspaper Ad Dustour on Monday.

The Christian leader expressed pessimism over the presidency crisis as Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun “is insisting on reaching the Baabda Palace.”

The LF chief has recently called on Aoun to engage in talks with him over a possible compromise candidate.

Geagea warned that the presidential vacuum compromises Lebanon's future, reiterating calls on Aoun to reach a breakthrough on the political standstill.

“We have two options only, we either attend the upcoming parliamentary session to elect a new head of state or we launch dialogue with the FPM to bridge the gap, without putting any preconditions,” he told his interviewer.

He revealed the communication channels are open with the FPM, saying that the rival parties “should agree on a compromise candidate, who is acceptable by all parties.”

“The presidential post is slowly decaying and no matter what the circumstances and backgrounds are we can not go on like that,” Geagea added.

He strongly criticized the parties responsible for impeding the presidential elections, saying: “Their endeavors are dragging the country to the bottom.”

Aoun is still the candidate of the March 8 camp in the face of Geagea, the nominee of the March 14 forces. The rivalry between the two men has led to a lack of quorum in 16 electoral sessions in parliament, amid a boycott by the MPs of Aoun and Hizbullah.

The presidential seat has been vacant since President Michel Suleiman's term ended on May 25.

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