Franjieh Meets Hariri: I Will Remain a Nominee as Long as some Blocs Support me

Head of the Marada Movement MP Suleiman Franjieh paid a visit on Wednesday to the Center House where he held talks with MP Saad Hariri to thank him for his ongoing support for his run for the presidency and to condole him on the eleventh anniversary of his father and former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination.

He told reporters after the meeting: “I will remain a presidential candidate as long as some blocs support me.”

“I will not withdraw from the presidential race and let down Hariri, who nominated me,” he said.

Franjieh is a candidate along with Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun, a fellow member in the March 8 alliance.

The Marada leader's run for the presidency has created tensions with Aoun.

“The FPM and Aoun are my allies. Our ties with the movement are not perfect, but we are still allies,” stressed Franjieh.

“Aoun may see our nomination as a competition, but we do not see it that way,” he continued.

“I have no problem with anyone nominating Aoun for the presidency,” he added.

“I have chances to reach the presidency as much as anyone else,” Franjieh declared.

He stressed however: “I never take any step without coordinating with my allies.”

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

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

Efforts to resolve the vacuum saw Hariri nominate Franjieh and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea nominate his long-time rival Aoun for the presidency.

About two weeks ago however, Hizbullah announced that it would not head to the presidential polls without guarantees that its ally Aoun would be elected.

M.T.

Y.R.