Berri slams Geagea, insists on foreign positivity towards Franjieh

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri doesn't have a plan B and his only plan is supporting Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh for presidency, he told al-Joumhouria in remarks published Wednesday.

Berri had said last week that foreign indications are positive concerning the election of Franjieh, a statement that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea rejected.

"His denial doesn't matter and will not change the facts," Berri said, insisting that what he said was true, and that neither the French nor the Saudis have denied it.

"Geagea seems tense these days, he is refusing dialogue, legislation in Parliament, and Cabinet sessions, and he wouldn't respond to presidential settlement efforts," he added.

On another note, Berri said that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not interfere with the presidential file during his visit to Beirut, denying media reports that claimed that Abdollahian had asked Tehran’s allies in Lebanon to consider ending their support for Franjieh’s presidential nomination.

"Abdollahian did not ask Amal and Hezbollah anything of that sort," Berri said.