Hariri Heads to Riyadh as Saniora Says he is 'Serious about Franjieh's Presidential Nomination'

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri traveled on Thursday night to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh to carry out further discussions on resolving the presidential deadlock in Lebanon, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.

Mustaqbal bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora meanwhile declared that Hariri is in fact “serious about the nomination of Marada Movement head MP Suleiman Franjieh as president.”

“We should not however read too much into things,” he warned.

“We are all taking part in the consultations over the presidency, whether among the Mustaqbal Movement or the March 14 coalition,” he stressed.

Saniora said that Hariri had not officially declared Franjieh as a presidential candidate, “but discussions to that end are being carried out.”

Asked about whether Hariri will once again be appointed prime minister, the lawmaker replied: “We are currently addressing the election of a head of state.”

“Once we complete these discussions, other steps will fall into place,” he continued.

“Hariri has the right to nominate himself for the premiership, but parliament is the one who ultimately chooses who should form a government,” said the former PM.

Franjieh has emerged as a new unofficial presidential candidate as part of a greater political settlement aimed at resolving Lebanon's political deadlock.

The initiative first made the light in wake of a meeting held by Franjieh and Hariri a few weeks ago.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 without the election of a successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.

M.T.

D.A.