Berri-Jumblat bromance: Intact despite presidential differences
Outgoing Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri seem to maintain a strong friendship, despite political differences.
"Nothing can affect my relation with Berri," Jumblat told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Tuesday. On the same day, Berri told al-Akhbar
that his relation with Jumblat is "unshakable," one day ahead of a heated presidential election session that will divide MPs' votes between Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh and IMF official and former minister Jihad Azour.
Although the Democratic Gathering bloc has long said it favors a consensual president, it announced that it would support Azour, while Hezbollah and Amal renewed their support for Franjieh.
"Voting for Azour is not targeted against the Shiite component and does not aim at isolating the Shiites," Democratic Gathering bloc sources told al-Joumhouria. "It is necessary to reach a consensus on Azour instead of imposing him."
The sources added that the bloc must be in harmony with itself, as it was the first to suggest Azour's name, "although it would have been better if Azour had adopted a different approach."
Meanwhile, Ain el-Tineh sources told al-Jadeed that Berri has been receiving reassuring messages from Jumblat about his insistence on consensus and the impossibility of Azour becoming president.
Source: Naharnet
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