Franjieh close to securing 65 votes, minister says

Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh is so close to securing the 65 votes needed for his election as president, minister Ziad Makari said.

Makari added that what Franjieh cares about is to be elected with a national consensus.

"The problem is securing quorum," he said, as he revealed that Franjieh is working on his presidential platform that he will announce at the right time.

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

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

He has not officially announced his candidacy, and 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.