Report: Berri Urges Hizbullah to Elect Franjieh as President
Speaker Nabih Berri has urged Hizbullah to settle for the election of Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh as president in light of the unlikelihood of their candidate MP Michel Aoun to reach the post, al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.
“Berri held contacts with Hizbullah a few days ago and has explained his point view on the need to expedite the election of Franjieh before the Saudi-Iranian dialogue kicks off in order to help a candidate of the March 8 camp to win the post” sources close to the Speaker said on condition of anonymity.
“Berri has urged Hizbullah not to waste the opportunity at the time being since it is impossible for the Change and Reform bloc chief Aoun to win the seat,” they added.
But the sources confirmed that Hizbullah is adamant to continue supporting Aoun as their sole candidate.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.
Conflicts among the rival March 8 and March 14 camps thwarted all attempts aiming at electing a successor.
In addition to Aoun and Franjieh, MP Henri Helou is a nominee of the Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
Franjieh was nominated by the al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri late last year.
Source: Naharnet
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