Report: Aoun Seeking Electoral Law 'Guarantees' in Exchange for Franjieh's Presidential Nomination
Head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun has not yet declared his stance on the potential nomination of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Saturday.
It said that Aoun, who is a presidential candidate, is seeking to ensure that he receive “guarantees” on the parliamentary electoral law before determining his position on the nomination.
He is keen to find out what electoral law will be adopted as part of a settlement that is being devised with ending the presidential deadlock.
Aoun's sources told the daily that the MP is dealing with the electoral law issue as a key factor that will determine his future stances on the presidential polls.
Franjieh's visitors meanwhile told al-Mustaqbal that he is “not yet prepared to discuss the electoral law.”
“This file is complicated and time is needed to find a consensual electoral law formula,” they explained.
Furthermore, they said that “placing conditions on his nomination is tantamount to rejecting his candidacy.”
Franjieh has emerged as an unofficial presidential candidate in recent days in the wake of talks he had held last week with Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri.
There has been intense media speculation on whether he will be a presidential candidate, despite reservations expressed by the March 14 alliance over the issue due to the lawmaker's close ties to the Syrian regime.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
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