List of presidential candidates discussed with Bou Najem

L'Orient-Le Jour has managed to obtain a non-final list of potential consensual candidates whose names have been discussed between the Christian leaders and Maronite Arbishop of Antelias Antoine Bou Najem.

Here is the list of the candidates who have either announced they were running for president or emerged as potential candidates.

- Suleiman Franjieh -

Suleiman Franjieh, 57, is a former lawmaker and minister close to Hezbollah and a personal friend of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Like many of Lebanon's prominent political figures, the leader of Marada movement hails from a storied dynasty.

His grandfather and namesake was president when Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war broke out.

In 1978, his father, politician Tony Franjieh, along with his mother and sister, were murdered by rival Christian fighters while he was elsewhere in the country.

He has not officially announced his candidacy, but he told local press he will next week announce his presidential vision.

His name had been touted for the presidency many times before but he never secured enough support to win.

Hezbollah and Amal have officially nominated Franjieh, although Hezbollah's ally the Free Patriotic Movement would not endorse him.

- Michel Mouawad -

Michel Mouawad, 50, has close ties to Washington and hails from Zgharta, Franjieh's hometown.

His father Rene Mouawad was killed 17 days after being elected president in 1989 and his mother Nayla Mouawad is a former minister and lawmaker.

He snatched the support of lawmakers opposed to Hezbollah, gathering around 40 votes out of 128 in past presidential election sessions.

He has repeatedly demanded that Hezbollah disarm.

But without the support of the Shiite group and its allies, Mouawad's chances of becoming president are slim.

- Joseph Aoun -

Army chief Joseph Aoun, 58, is on good terms with all sides of the political spectrum, although Hezbollah has criticized him for his close ties to Washington.

Naming him would require a constitutional amendment because of his position, but constitutionally parliament cannot legislate and can only convene to elect a president.

The commander, who bears no relation to former president Michel Aoun, is widely seen as a compromise candidate that lawmakers could elect if they fail to reach a consensus on their preferred choice.

Should he become president, Aoun would be the fourth former army commander to lead the country since the end of the civil war.

- Others -

The names of other candidates have also been discussed with Bou Najem, L'Orient-Le Jour said.

These include ex-ministers Jihad Azour, Ziad Baroud and Roger Dib, MPs Ibrahim Kanaan and Neemat Frem and former MP Salah Honein.

Lebanese Ambassador to Vatican Farid Elias el-Khazen and former Ambassador to Vatican Georges Khoury have also been floated as potential candidates.