Report: Geagea Heads to Saudi Soon to Address Presidential Deadlock

Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in order to discuss the latest developments regarding the presidential elections, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.

LF sources told the daily: “Contacts are ongoing between Geagea and the Saudi leadership to explain the Christian position on the proposed presidential settlement.”

Media reports in recent weeks have spoken of the possibility of the nomination of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president.

“Saudi Arabia's stance is now clear and it has informed Geagea that it will not take or bless any step that does not have the LF and his approval,” continued the sources.

“The kingdom rejects having Christians outside the game of electing a president,” they explained.

“It will not go ahead with a president that does not have Geagea's approval and who does not agree with the stances of MP Michel Aoun,” they stressed.

“Geagea therefore communicates with Riyadh in the name of all Christians and not just the Lebanese Forces,” remarked the sources to al-Joumhouria.

Geagea is a presidential candidate himself.

There has been a flurry of political talks in the country that followed a Paris meeting between Franjieh and al-Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri. The meeting sparked intense speculation that the two leaders agreed to the nomination of the Marada chief for the presidency.

Aoun, a presidential candidate himself, announced on Monday that it is up to the March 8 coalition to decide whether or not to nominate Franjieh for the presidency.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri said on Tuesday that the kingdom “hopes that Lebanese powers will be able to elect a president as soon as possible to put an end to the paralysis at state institutions, which has started to have negative effects on the country.”

He added that he “supports any candidate who enjoys the backing of the Lebanese people, especially the Christians.”

Asiri stressed that Riyadh does not meddle in Lebanese affairs, saying that the “Lebanese people alone should take the decisions that suit them.”

M.T.

D.A.