Franjieh Meets al-Rahi, Says His Presidential Nomination still Stands

Head of the Marada Movement held talks on Monday night with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in wake of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea’s nomination of Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun as president.

Franjieh tweeted after the talks: “I am still going ahead with my candidacy for the presidency.”

The MP’s nomination was part of a proposal launched in late 2015 by Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri.

Geagea’s nomination of his rival Aoun for the country’s top post was seen as a reaction to Hariri’s nomination of the Marada leader.

Geagea was the presidential candidate of the March 14 camp of which Hariri is also a member of.

Tensions had risen between the two allies in wake of Franjieh's nomination.

M.T.