Report: Paris begins changing its stance on Lebanon presidency

There is a “beginning of a transformation” in Paris’ stance on the Lebanese presidential file, specifically as to its call for electing Suleiman Franjieh as president in return for naming Nawaf Salam as premier, several highly-informed French sources have said.

“Paris has reached a conclusion that its plan does not enjoy the circumstances of success,” the sources told the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.

“A meeting for the five-party group (France, U.S., KSA, Egypt and Qatar) had been scheduled for the current month, but the differences within the group led to postponing it to next month without specifying an exact date,” the daily added.

Franjieh has so far failed to win the support of any of the country’s leading Christian parties – the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party. He is also facing opposition from the Progressive Socialist Party and the Change bloc.