Franjieh meets army chief over dinner
Army Commander General Joseph Aoun hosted Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh over dinner on Thursday evening, media reports said.
“The discussions tackled all the current files, especially the presidential juncture and the deteriorating relation with the Free Patriotic Movement,” the reports said.
Sources close to Franjieh said the Marada chief met Aoun’s invitation because he “believes that he is his only serious contender for the presidency, to send a message that democratic competition is possible and to preserve good ties.”
“Franjieh wanted to normalize the ties with the army chief after a tepid relation period and he understands that Aoun’s election as president depends on his decision to withdraw from the race, something that is not on the table at the moment,” the sources said.
The meeting came a day before parliament extended Aoun’s term as army chief for another year to avoid vacuum in the army command.
The country has been without a president since the end of the term of former president Michel Aoun on October 30, 2022.
18 December 2023, 20:53
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At yesterday’s gathering, LAF General Joseph Aoun and Suleiman Franjié, son of a political dynasty, engage in conversation. Joseph Aoun asserts, "In the military, we learn to execute plans with precision and protect our nation."
Suleiman Franjié smirks, "Ah, in politics, we learn to create plans so convoluted that nobody can tell if anything was actually accomplished."
Aoun arches an eyebrow, "Impressive. So, your strategy is to obscure incompetence with complexity?"
Franjié grins, "And yours is to mask inactivity with a parade of authority.”
… and their exchange, steeped in veiled insults, highlights the deceptive manœuvres prevalent in their respective domains.
