Report: Franjieh Will not Draw Back from Presidential Race

Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh will not draw back his nomination for the presidency as long as he still garners the support of the majority of lawmakers, the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper reported on Friday.

“Franjieh is keeping his nomination. He will not withdraw in favor of anyone as long as the majority of MPs support him,” sources close to Franjieh told the daily.

Reports emerged lately claiming that Franjieh might quit the presidential race in favor of his rival founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun.

“Discussions with al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri regarding the presidential post are ongoing. The latter strongly adheres to the nomination of Franjieh,” the sources remarked.

Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his suggestion was rejected by the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

The Hizbullah-led March 8 camp, as well as March 14's Lebanese Forces, have argued that Aoun is more eligible than Franjieh to become president given the size of his parliamentary bloc and his influence in the Christian community.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended on May 25, 2014 and the FPM, Hizbullah and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions.

On the other hand, official sources of Mustaqbal assured that the result of the municipal and mayoral elections have not changed Hariri's stance about Franjieh, “he is more convinced now,” they said.