Franjieh says no problem in agreeing on 'patriotic and unifying president'

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh on Sunday said he has not “imposed” himself on anyone as a presidential candidate, adding that he has “no problem” in “agreeing on a patriotic and unifying candidate.”

“We started our journey based on our belief in dialogue and we’re continuing with this belief,” Franjieh said.

“In 2016, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea allied with Hezbollah’s candidate ex-president Michel Aoun against me, and their problem is with any Christian candidate who would take the country to openness rather than cantons,” Franjieh added.

“No candidate other than me has been asked about his platform, whether as to the defense strategy, the refugees, the economy or other issues,” he lamented.

The Marada chief also criticized the Free Patriotic Movement and the so-called Change MPs.

“The FPM wants a candidate from outside the establishment while their candidate (Jihad Azour) is the son of the establishment and the finance minister of (the Fouad Saniora government),” Franjieh said.

“They have intersected with those whom they had labeled as Daesh and Israel,” he added, referring to FPM statements against the LF.

Addressing some of the Change MPs, Franjieh said: “How do you justify to the youths your intersection today with those against whom and against their corruption you staged a revolution?”

Franjieh added that “on Wednesday, everyone will go to the (presidential) election” session, but noted that he does not believe that a president will be elected during that session.

And noting that he is “committed to reforms, the Taif Accord and the principle of administrative decentralization,” the Marada chief said that, if elected, he will be “a president for entire Lebanon and all Lebanese.”

“We ask the other camp to stand by us to achieve the country’s rise,” he added.