Bishop Abu Najem starts new tour for Christian consensus over president

Maronite Archbishop of Antelias Antoine Abu Najem has started a second round of meetings with Christian leaders in an attempt to secure Christian consensus over the presidential file, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Monday.

Assigned by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Abu Najem had started last month an exploratory tour, during which he explored the stances of Christian leaders and their approach toward the presidential crisis, media reports said.

Asharq al-Awsat said Monday that the Archbishop had met Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement leaders Samir Geagea and Jebran Bassil at the end of last week and will meet Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh and Kateb leader Sami Gemayel in the coming hours.

During these meetings, Abu Najm is proposing candidates backed by Bkerki to seek consensus on one or two names, the daily said.

Sources told the daily that after the second round of meetings is completed and the results are evaluated, al-Rahi might call for a Christian leaders meeting in Bkerki.

The sources added that al-Rahi would only call for a meeting once he is sure that the meeting will be fruitful.

Meanwhile, Geagea's sources told Asharq al-Awsat that he refuses a Christian quartet meeting but might participate if Bkerki insists while an FPM MP confirmed that Bassil would attend.