Report: Berri's Rejection of Aoun Reflects Hizbullah's Real Stance

Speaker Nabih Berri's rejection of the presidential nomination of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun reflects Hizbullah's real stance despite the party's declared support for Aoun's bid, sources close to the FPM have said.

“Berri has informed ex-PM Saad Hariri of his total rejection of the election of General Michel Aoun as president, expressing fears and concern, and this is what he has also informed MP Walid Jumblat of,” al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted the sources as saying in remarks published Sunday.

“Berri's rejection reflects Hizbullah's rejection, despite the party's public stances on supporting his nomination, knowing that Speaker Berri has denied what is being said about his rejection of Aoun,” the sources added.

Hariri's return to Lebanon last week has triggered a flurry of rumors and media reports about a possible presidential settlement and the possibility that the former premier has finally decided to endorse Aoun for the presidency in a bid to break the deadlock.

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 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 Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman 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.