Reports: Christians reject Franjieh-Salam deal as bishop continues talks

The country’s two main Christian blocs -- the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement -- have rejected a proposed, French-backed presidential settlement under which Suleiman Franjieh would be elected as president and Nawaf Salam would be named as premier, media reports said on Monday.

In a statement, the LF denied a media report published in al-Liwaa newspaper that had claimed that it was willing to “secure quorum for Franjieh’s election.”

“The LF has repeatedly stressed its stance that categorically rejects any Hezbollah presidential candidate, and accordingly this stance fully applies to the candidate of the Axis of Defiance, Mr. Suleiman Franjieh,” the LF said.

The FPM has also “incited” Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea not to “back down” from his stance, al-Liwaa reported on Monday.

The Nidaa al-Watan newspaper meanwhile said that Maronite Archbishop of Antelias Antoine Abu Najem intends to carry out a second round of meetings with Christian leaders to “relay the Maronite patriarch’s proposals based on his first tour, during which he explored the stances of those leaders and their approach toward the presidential crisis.”