Except for Aoun, no serious candidates ahead of jan. session

The Democratic Gathering bloc was the first bloc to officially announce its presidential candidate ahead of a president election session scheduled for January 9. The session might end more than two years of presidential vacuum.

The Democratic Gathering bloc said Wednesday, following a meeting, that its MPs will vote for Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun on January 9.

Former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat attended the meeting, only few days after he met with Speaker Nabih Berri and reportedly tried to convince him of Aoun.

According to MTV, Jumblat also tried to convince Free Patriotic Movement Jebran Bassil of Aoun, but his attempts with both Berri and Bassil failed.

The Lebanese TV channel said that Berri's objection on Aoun is not because of his U.S. ties, but rather because of his "sharp" character and "sectarian approach."

- Who is Joseph Aoun? -

Aoun, who is being touted as a possible candidate for the presidency, is a man with a tough mission following an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire that relies heavily on his troops deploying in the south as Hezbollah withdraw from there. But it will be a difficult task.

Aoun, 60, was set to retire last January after heading the army since 2017, but has had his mandate extended twice.

The army, widely respected and a rare source of unity in a country riven by sectarian and political divides, has held together despite periodic social strife, the latest war and a crushing five-year economic crisis.

Aoun "has a reputation of personal integrity", said Karim Bitar, an international relations expert at Beirut's Saint-Joseph University. "Within the Lebanese army, he is perceived as someone who is dedicated... who has the national interest at heart, and who has been trying to consolidate this institution, which is the last non-sectarian institution still on its feet in the country," he told AFP.

The army chief came into prominence after leading the army in a battle to drive out the Islamic State group from a mountainous area along the Syrian border.

Aoun has good relations with groups across the political spectrum, including with Hezbollah, as well as with various foreign countries.

The Lebanese Armed Forces are U.S.-backed and Aoun has ties to the United States and thus is often criticized by Hezbollah-affiliated media.

- Who else would vote for Aoun? -

Aoun has been floated by several politicians, parties and local media as a potential candidate for Lebanon's presidency, but no one, except the Democratic Gathering bloc, has announced his name as an official candidate for January 9.

Opposition blocs have said they support Aoun as a third-man solution, but have also floated other names like Michel Mouawad, ex-minister Jihad Azour, ex-MP Salah Honein, MP Neemat Frem, and ex-minister Nassif Hitti. Their latest official candidate was Azour while Hezbollah and Amal have always supported only one candidate: Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh.

The opposition has not yet decided for whom its MPs will vote on January 9, but Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has reportedly contacted Berri amid many presidential initiatives ahead of the long-awaited session. Geagea has said that he was ready to run for president himself if he could secure enough political support and Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel who says he supports Aoun, has said he wouldn't mind voting for Geagea. He said that "everything is possible" and that he might himself run for president.

According to several local media reports, in addition to Aoun, Azour, Honein, Frem, and Hitti, Lebanon's other candidates are currently ex-ambassador to the Vatican and former army intelligence chief Brig. Gen. George Khoury (supported by Berri and Bassil), MP Farid Haykal al-Khazen (supported by Berri), General Security chief Maj. Gen. Elias Bayssari (supported by Qatar, Berri and Bassil), ex-minister Ziad Baroud (supported by Bassil), ex-minister Jean-Louis Cardahi, and banker Samir Assaf (supported by France.)

- What happened to Franjieh? -

Hezbollah and Amal have only had one candidate, and although they've been accused of being inflexible and of trying to impose their candidate, the two parties, known as the Shiite Duo, have long called for dialogue and for a consensual president.

Apparently Franjieh has no chances, and two years of deadlock have proved that neither Hezbollah nor its opponents can impose a president, and that there is need for consensus or compromise.

Franjieh himself said Wednesday that he is open for any candidate who would be a good fit for the position.

"I am still running for the presidency but I am open to anyone who would be fit for the current phase and who is able to build a state, and I do not have any disagreement with my friends although we have not yet reached an agreement on a name," Franjieh said, referring to ally Hezbollah.