Report: Franjieh Says Local Situation Linked to Foreign Affairs, Justifies Boycott of Presidential Polls
Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh stated that the local situation in Lebanon is linked to foreign developments, while justifying the boycott of March 8 camp lawmakers of presidential elections sessions, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Thursday.
Bishop Samir Mazloum told the daily that the MP believes that the boycott is a constitutional right.
Mazloum made his remarks in light of a meeting on Wednesday between Franjieh and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
“The lawmakers will head to parliament to elect a president when the conditions are ripe,” said Franjieh according to Mazloum.
“The conditions so far are not ripe yet,” he added.
The bishop also denied that al-Rahi had asked Franjieh to act as mediator with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to convince him to attend the elections or abandon his nomination.
Aoun has yet to announce his candidacy, but he has repeatedly stated that he is willing to run in the elections if there is consensus over his nomination.
Moreover, Mazloum stated that at the moment, Bkirki has no initiatives to hold a meeting between Aoun and his rival Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
“There are no new developments regarding the presidential elections. Local affairs are linked to a breakthrough in regional events,” he explained to al-Joumhouria.
Franjieh and al-Rahi had held a meeting on Wednesday during which they discussed the presidential elections and other pending issues.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
Several elections sessions have been staged, but the majority of them were not held due to lack of quorum caused by a boycott by the Loyalty to the Resistance and Change and Reform blocs of the March 8 alliance.
The MPs defended the boycott by saying that they are awaiting for consensus to be reached over a presidential candidate.
The next elections session is scheduled for July 23.
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