Jumblat Backs Candidacy of Jean Obeid for Presidential Post

Progressive Socialist Party Leader Walid Jumblat proposed the candidacy of former Minister Jean Obeid for the presidency, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the daily, Jumblat expressed his ultimate backing to Obeid.

“I still back the name of (Democratic Gathering) MP Henry Helou as my first choice, but we will eventually have to settle on the name of a consensual nominee after (Lebanese Forces Leader) Samir Geagea and (Free Patriotic Movement chief) Michel Aoun withdraw their candidacies,” Jumblat told his visitors.

The Druze leader, who is currently on a private visit abroad, reportedly believes that Obeid could gather the political arch-foes around him.

Jumblat kicked off recently a tour on prominent leaders as part of his efforts to convince the rivals to elect a compromise president.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that Bkirki and al-Mustaqbal Movement didn't veto the name of Obeid.

Lebanon's top Christian post was left vacant in May this year when the rival MPs failed to elect a successor to President Michel Suleiman over their differences on a compromise candidate.

The majority of the March 8 alliance's MPs, including Aoun's parliamentary bloc, boycotted the sessions aimed at electing a head of state, causing lack of quorum.

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