FPM 'Cautious' on Hariri's Efforts as Berri Says No President without 'Package Deal'

W460

The Free Patriotic Movement is “cautious” regarding the latest efforts of al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri to end the country's presidential vacuum, an FPM official said on Tuesday.

“We are cautious regarding the presidential developments and we're neither optimistic nor pessimistic,” ex-MP Salim Aoun of the FPM told al-Manar television.

LBCI TV meanwhile reported that that FPM will give Hariri “a chance” and “will wait for the outcome of his current efforts.”

As for Ain el-Tineh's stance on the developments, al-Jadeed television reported that Speaker Nabih Berri “is saying that the vacuum will continue unless the parties agree on a package deal.”

“The presidential settlement is not ripe yet,” Ain el-Tineh sources told al-Jadeed.

Earlier in the day, FPM chief Jebran Bassil noted that there are “attempts to achieve accord” in the country while warning that the FPM would confront anyone seeking to “block partnership” strongly and to the extent of “martyrdom.”

The developments follow an overnight meeting between Hariri and his declared presidential candidate, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, and three days after Hariri returned to the country from a foreign trip that lasted several weeks.

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

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival, after months of political rapprochement talks between their two parties.

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.

Comments 1
Thumb shab 28 September 2016, 18:12

Exactly. I'm tired of his "package deal" he utters contentiously, reminds me of the "equation" slogan.