Geagea says 'ready' for vote session, won't reveal LF-FPM talk results
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has decided not to reveal the developments of the talks with the Free Patriotic Movement over a presidential candidate.
"Every party has the right to keep its cards hidden," Geagea told MTV, urging Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to call for an election session this week. "We are totally ready for it," he said.
LF MP Fadi Karam had earlier said that the LF and the FPM have to come to an agreement to reach a rescue president and prevent the election of the Shiite Duo's candidate.
"We are discussing three names with the FPM, one of them is (former finance minister) Jihad Azour."
FPM MP George Atallah was also positive about the LF-FPM talks. He revealed that the two parties have overcome many obstacles and that the talks have reached an advanced stage. "We are now discussing names," he said, adding that the FPM will not endorse the Shiite Duo's candidate and has refused all its proposals.
The name with the highest chances is Azour, according to al-Akhbar newspaper. The daily said that the FPM refused MP Michel Mouawad, Army Chief Joseph Aoun and former MP Salah Honein, while the LF refused former minister Ziad Baroud.
Azour also has the support of the Democratic Gathering bloc, al-Akhbar said.
Yet, the daily quoted a LF source as saying that although the two parties have agreed to refuse Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, the LF is still uncertain of the FPM stance regarding the opposing candidate.
"(FPM chief Jebran) Bassil, to Maarab, is still in a gray area. We are not yet sure that he will name a candidate that is not acceptable to Hezbollah," the source said.
LF spokesman Charles Jabbour had asked Saturday in a tweet whether Bassil would dare to agree with the opposition on a presidential candidate without returning to his ally.
Kataeb MP Elias Hankash said that "an agreement on a name with the LF and the FPM is imminent," but "Whether Bassil will engage in the presidential battle against Hezbollah depends on the talks that will be held in the coming days."
