Bkirki Confirms Proposal on Deal over Names of 2 Presidential Candidates

An agreement on the names of two candidates for the presidential elections is among many proposals set to be discussed during a planned meeting between the country's top four Maronite leaders, Bkirki spokesman Walid Ghayyad said Thursday.

Ghayyad told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that no date has yet been set for the meeting between Phalange leader Amin Gemayel, Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and the head of Marada movement, Suleiman Franjieh.

But he said that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi wishes to bring them together to agree on the presidential polls and among other proposals on the names of two candidates.

“Everyone has the freedom to announce his candidacy,” he told VDL.

Bishop Samir Mazloum also told VDL (93.3) that a date could be set for the meeting if the top four Maronite politicians reached consensus on certain issues.

Their comments came a day after An Nahar daily reported that Bkirki is seeking to strike a deal between the politicians on the presidential elections but it is shying away from naming its candidate for the top post.

Al-Rahi is keen on avoiding a vacuum at Baabda Palace after President Michel Suleiman rejected an extension and stressed that he would leave his post at the end of his term on May 4, the newspaper said.