MP Tony Franjiyeh says father serious candidate for presidency, ties improving with FPM

An upcoming meeting between the leaders of the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Marada is probable, MP Tony Franjieh said.

Franjiyeh told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Friday, that his father, Suleiman Franjieh is a serious candidate for Presidency and has high chances of becoming President.

He added, that the relations between Franjieh and the FPM are improving, but it is still not sure whether an agreement on the Presidency will be reached or not.

Before the end of the year, The new parliament must pick a president to succeed Michel Aoun, who will be 89 by then.

The ties between Jebran Bassil and Suleiman Franjieh, both potential candidates for the upcoming presidential elections, had been strained for years but they are both key allies of Hezbollah.

Months ago, Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah held a meeting with Bassil and Franjieh to reconcile them.