Report: Aoun Hails Hariri for Openness to Presidency Options
MP Michel Aoun is reassured by al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri's willingness to discuss all the options at hand to give momentum to the presidential file, which the MP interpreted as a tacit approval of supporting him for the post, the Kuwaiti As-Seyasah daily reported on Monday.
Although Hariri has not openly disclosed support for Aoun, but founder of the Free Patriotic Movement Aoun is reassured that Hariri is willing to take into consideration all the options available to end the over two-year vacuum at the post, according to information obtained by the daily.
Aoun translated Hariri's step as a tacit support for his nomination.
The MP has asked his deputies and party officials to praise the political stances and “initiative” of Hariri, and at the same time announcing the rejection of any attempt to impose conditions on the new president of the republic.
Hariri's return to Lebanon last week has triggered a flurry of rumors and media reports about a possible presidential settlement and the possibility that the former premier has finally decided to endorse Aoun for the presidency in a bid to break the deadlock.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.
Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Marada Movemnet chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival, after months of political rapprochement talks between their two parties.
The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.
Source: Naharnet
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