Report: Saniora Visits Hariri in Riyadh to Discuss Franjieh Meeting

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Head of the Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora held talks in Riyadh with Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri on his meeting with MP Suleiman Franjieh last week, reported the daily An Nahar Tuesday.

The talks focused on recent claims that Franjieh may be a new presidential candidate, who may break the deadlock in the dispute that has left the country's top post vacant since May 2014.

A prominent March 14 source told the daily that Hariri “is not focusing on the presidential elections, but on means to revitalize government and parliament work.”

“The Hariri-Franjieh meeting has reignited attention regarding the presidential elections, but they did not delve into the practical details of the polls, contrary to the exaggerated media and political reports on the issue,” it continued.

Ministerial sources told An Nahar that the Hariri-Franjieh meeting took place at the latter's request to address the presidential elections.

A settlement over the elections “is not ready yet” because the March 14 camp is not prepared to abandon the candidacy of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and the Kataeb Party is not willing to abandon the candidacy of its former chief Amin Gemayel, who is also a former president.

The March 8 camp has also not let go of its nomination of Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun, said the sources.

They remarked however that the Hariri-Franjieh meeting had “created a new dynamic during a phase that is witnessing changes in Syria.”

“This does not mean that the path towards electing a president has been launched in Lebanon,” they noted without elaborating.

Media reports had in recent days spoken of the potential nomination of Franjieh for the presidency in light of his meeting with Hariri.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.

Comments 2
Missing humble 24 November 2015, 09:15

The Caporal must be on his highest dosage of drugs

Thumb nickjames 24 November 2015, 09:35

Conversation between Hariri and Sanyoura:

Hariri: how are things in Lebanon?
Sanyoura: ya Saadedine, if Franjieh becomes president, your father would turn in his grave.
Hariri: No no, it's all a misunderstanding. You flew here just to ask that?
Sanyoura: No, I came for some money, we need to take care of some things in Lebanon.
Hariri: you made millions in my father's government. Cover it for now, I'll send money later.
Sanyoura: All right. I'm starving, you got any jambon in the fridge?