Makari, Abou Faour Trade Jabs over Jumblat's Role in Presidential Elections

Deputy Speaker Farid Makari ruled out the possibility of an agreement between the Mustaqbal Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement over the election of FPM chief MP Michel Aoun as president, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Tuesday.

He told the daily: “The only good thing to come out of such an agreement would be the elimination of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's role as a swing vote at parliament.”

“Aoun would not be a strong March 8 camp presidential candidate, but the alliance will not oppose his nomination should a consensus be reached over him,” added Makari.

Later on Tuesday, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is close to Jumblat, told LBCI television: “We were not surprised with Makari's annoyance with Jumblat's political weight, which has helped preserve civil peace.”

“We were not surprised by his shortsightedness over the political scene in Lebanon,” he added.

Jumblat's parliamentary Democratic Gathering bloc consists of 11 lawmakers, who have not taken sides in the divide between the March 14 and 8 camps that comprise the majority of the MPs at parliament.

The PSP chief nominated MP Henri Helou, of the Democratic Gathering, for the elections, the first round of which was held last week.

He received 16 votes in the elections, while the other candidate, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea received 48.

A candidate needed 86 votes to emerge victorious in the elections.

The second round of the polls will be held on Wednesday with a candidate needing 65 votes to be elected president.

The March 8 camp is yet to name its candidate for the elections.

M.T.

Y.R.