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FPM may vote blank if presidential election session held soon

The Free Patriotic Movement might resort to the choice of casting blank votes should there be an imminent call for a presidential election session, MP Alain Aoun said.

Such a choice would mean that the FPM is “not siding with any candidate,” Aoun told Radio All of Lebanon.

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Deputy PM calls for Salameh's resignation amid corruption allegations

Lebanon's caretaker deputy prime minister Saade Chami, who is heading talks with the International Monetary Fund to bail out Lebanon's tanking economy, has called for the country's embattled central bank chief to resign, amid allegations of corruption and an international arrest warrant issued against him.

Once seen as the guardian of Lebanon's financial stability, Central Bank Gov. Riad Salameh is now widely blamed for an economic meltdown that began in 2019. The Lebanese pound has since plummeted in value and wiped out much of the savings of ordinary Lebanese, plunging an estimated three-quarters of the population into poverty.

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Frem intends to officially declare his presidential nomination

MP Neemat Frem has said that he intends to officially announce his presidential nomination.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, Frem expressed his intention during a dinner banquet that he held at his home last week.

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Franjieh supporters expect his election after Arab Summit

The political parties that support Suleiman Franjieh’s presidential nomination are “very relieved” over the latest developments, a media report said on Thursday.

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MP says FPM trying to be 'bridge between Defiance camp and opposition'

MP Salim Aoun of the Free Patriotic Movement has stressed that “the FPM does not intend to move from one alignment to another, because Lebanon’s structure necessitates consensus over the presidential juncture, not confrontation.”

“The FPM is trying to be a bridge between the (Hezbollah-led) Defiance (camp) and the opposition in order to reach common denominators,” Aoun said in an interview with Radio All of Lebanon.

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Bassil 'hurt' by Hezbollah, finds 'common ground' with opposition

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil is deeply hurt by Hezbollah, he told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, in remarks published Thursday.

"There is a big disagreement" Bassil said, adding that the country needs to resist through its economy and the dignity of its people, and not just through arms.

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How will PSP, Sunni and Change blocs vote?

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat had recently suggested the addition of ex-MP Salah Honein to the list of the proposed presidential candidates, but Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil rejected the suggestion, seeing as Honein’s nomination would “provoke” Hezbollah, a media report said.

“Jumblat then agreed to (Jihad) Azour’s nomination and asked his bloc to vote for him, but he told the bloc’s members that he would await the decision of the Christian blocs,” al-Akhbar newspaper quoted informed sources as saying in remarks published Thursday.

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Scent of tradition lingers in Lebanon's 'village of roses'

On a gentle slope looking out over Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, villagers work their way across pink-dotted terraces, gathering perfumed Damask roses that are used for essential oils, sweets and cosmetics.

The rose harvest "gives you a bit of hope, it makes things beautiful, it calms you down -- it gives you strength to carry on", said Leila al-Dirani, picking the flowers from her family's land in the village of Qsarnaba.

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Mikati: No Saudi, int'l aid for Lebanon before reforms

There will be no solution and no aid for Lebanon before reforms are carried out, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.

Mikati told Saudi al-Riyadh daily, in remarks published Thursday, that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has told him that Saudi Arabia will support Lebanon on the condition that it implement reforms, elect a new president, and take all measures to prevent any action that would harm the Saudis, like drug smuggling.

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Report: Foreign nations discussing shape of new Lebanese govt.

Despite all the pessimism and conflicting reports in Beirut, the issue of the Lebanese presidency has been settled by the influential foreign forces, a media report said on Wednesday.

“They are now discussing the government and its shape and line-up,” ad-Diyar newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying.

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