Report: Franjieh is Ready to Withdraw from Presidential Race

W460

Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh will reportedly withdraw his candidacy for the presidential post in favor of founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, As Safir daily said on Saturday.

Franjieh told French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault that he is ready to move back from his nomination for the head of state in favor of Aoun if Lebanon's interest requires that, according to the daily.

Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate the Marada chief for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, Aoun, has become optimistic now that the chances increased for his arrival at the presidential post, added the daily.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions at parliament, stripping them of the needed quorum.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 5
Thumb EagleDawn 23 July 2016, 08:39

Al Safil daily is as credible as when mowaten of iran says he is lebanese, secular, and has one account only.

Thumb EagleDawn 23 July 2016, 08:41

لكن يبدو أن حسابات “الوطني الحر” لم تتطابق مع بيدر تيار “المردة” الذي تؤكد مصادره أن شيئا لم يتبدل أو يتغير في المبادرة الرئاسية، وأن كل ما يتم تداوله في الصالونات السياسية حول اللقاء الذي جمع إيرولت بفرنجية لا يعدو كونه “مجرد تمنيات”.

http://www.lebanese-forces.com/2016/07/23/sleiman-frangieh-jean-marc-ayrault-michel-aoun-ghassan-rifi/

Missing humble 23 July 2016, 08:54

The Caporal is the worst of all choices.

Thumb justin 23 July 2016, 09:30

07:40
الخارجية الايرانية رداً على وزير الخارجية السعودي: السعودية هي عرّابة "القاعدة" و"داعش"

however:

U.S. Treasury sanctions three Iran-based Al Qaeda members
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/al-qaeda-us-sanctions-225871

Treasury Designates Three Senior Al-Qaida Members
https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0523.aspx

Thumb janoubi 23 July 2016, 15:41

Wi2am Wahhab and his political might supports Aoun for President.

أكد رئيس حزب “التوحيد” الوزير السابق وئام وهاب اصراره على انتخاب النائب العماد ميشال عون رئيسا للجمهورية، وقال: “ان مرشحنا الاول هو ميشال عون والمرشح الثاني هو ميشال عون والثالث ميشال عون والتاسع ميشال عون وكي لا يراهن احد على الوقت بهذا الموضوع، فهذه المقاومة هي صاحبة وعد صادق وليست في الحرب فقط صاحبة وعد صادق بل في تحالفاتها ايضا صاحبة وعد صادق لذلك وعدنا للعماد ميشال عون هو وعد صادق”.