Hariri Wants 'Hizbullah Arms' in Any 'Package Deal', Urges Geagea to Back Franjieh

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri declared Monday that he would want Hizbullah's controversial arsenal of weapons to be part of any “package deal” among the rival political parties.

“When Hizbullah lost hope that (Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel) Aoun can become president, it started talking about the package deal,” said Hariri in a chat with reporters.

“If they want a package deal, we also want a package deal involving its weapons,” the ex-PM added.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had in November called for a “comprehensive political settlement” over the issues of the stalled presidential vote, the next government and the electoral law that should be approved for the parliamentary polls.

“Let us engage in bilateral, tripartite or four-party talks to discuss the issues of the presidency, the premier, the government's structure and the electoral law,” Nasrallah urged, noting that addressing the country's problems “little by little” has become “very tiresome.”

In the wake of Nasrallah's call, Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency, an offer that has faced reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

“We will maintain our support for Franjieh and we will meet soon,” Hariri told reporters on Monday.

“Everyone knows that if quorum was secured, MP Franjieh would have enough votes to become president,” Hariri added, referring to the boycott of electoral sessions by Hizbullah, the FPM and some of their allies.

Asked about Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's latest call for him to endorse Aoun's nomination in a bid to “embarrass” Hizbullah, Hariri said: “I understand (Geagea's) approach towards the presidential issue but Hizbullah does not want a president.”

Addressing the LF leader, he added: “If you want to embarrass Hizbullah, give up your support for Aoun's nomination and endorse Franjieh.”

Separately, Hariri stressed that he is not insisting on becoming the country's next prime minister and that he is not “paralyzing the country over this issue.”

Y.R.

M.T.