Franjieh Says 'Won't Withdraw' from Race although Aoun's Chances 'Stronger'

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Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh stressed Monday that he will not withdraw from the presidential race although the chances of his electoral rival, Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun, seem to be “stronger” in the upcoming October 31 session.

“I will not withdraw from the presidential race and I will attend the electoral session and accept the result no matter what it might be,” Franjieh said in an interview on LBCI television.

“We don't have a problem in the election of General Aoun as president and he has the right to be in the race,” he added.

The Marada chief however lashed out at both Aoun and his new ally Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

“Since when the names of Dr. Geagea or General Aoun have been associated with a state of stability or prosperity? They have always been associated with a state of war, obstruction and criminality, and I'm not referring to Aoun by the last word,” he said.

Franjieh accuses Geagea of murdering his family during civil war.

Referring to the period that preceded ex-PM Saad Hariri's decision to shift his support from the Marada leader to Aoun, Franjieh said: “I told Hariri that the army command should not be against the resistance.”

“General Aoun could have communicated with us in a certain way that recognizes our presence and I would have withdrawn from the presidential race,” he added.

Maronite “Patriarch (Beshara) al-Rahi wants a president and Aoun's nomination conforms 100% with the National Pact. He is the strongest Christian candidate but he is not the only one,” Franjieh admitted.

“Everyone was betting that Hizbullah does not want a president but they have been proven wrong,” he noted.

Franjieh also revealed that “Hizbullah was counting on Aoun's withdrawal after my nomination by Hariri.”

“But Geagea's support for Aoun reversed the equation and led to Aoun's clinging to his nomination,” he added.

Franjieh also emphasized that a “frank friendship” still gathers him with Hariri and that the ex-PM was “honest” with him.

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 had 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.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid have argued 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 15
Thumb ice-man 24 October 2016, 22:20

Allah, Nassrallah, Bashar, Aoun W'Bassss!

Thumb .mowaten. 24 October 2016, 22:40

You seem stuck on that record since Hariri announced his support for Aoun, must have been quite a traumatic experience for you eh? lol

Thumb EagleDawn 24 October 2016, 22:47

habboub dont be so pathetic. when you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Default-user-icon Athiest (Guest) 25 October 2016, 00:01

Which allah? I seem to have soooo many allahoses...wonder why species like u never get their heads out of their arses and smell the real fresh air, not the airs u mentioned...LMAO.. meeaaaaa

Thumb barrymore 25 October 2016, 11:12

@Athiest
you spelled "Atheist" wrong

Thumb justin 25 October 2016, 12:04

lol

Thumb shn-virgo 25 October 2016, 03:01

hehehe that sily ironic ice-man, doing a meme of our own ansarullah moujahid who's been stuck on the Zainabu Marratayyn slogan ;) how did that one go umm, I have it on the tip of my tongue something something Zainabu Marratayyn then something like Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison Kyrie Eleison!

Default-user-icon the_roar (Guest) 25 October 2016, 07:29

FT, loser.frangyi and I (the_roar) are the 3 most informative posters on naharnet by 3 country miles. No wonder our posts are deleted as soon as we post. People are jealous of us

Thumb warrior 24 October 2016, 23:08

Franjieh is such a loser. He had the majority to become president but declined to attend his own election session because hezbollah ordered him not too.

Thumb theresistance4.0 24 October 2016, 23:25

If what your saying is true that sounds like someone who's a patriot and doing what's best for his country and not his own personal benifit. But than again M14 politicians and their drones only think of what's in it for them as usual

Thumb .mowaten. 25 October 2016, 02:09

frangieh never had a majority, far from it.

Thumb .mowaten. 25 October 2016, 02:57

if your crystal ball says so, then it must be true.

Thumb liberty 25 October 2016, 06:17

once again the troll is sleepless in dahieh posting at 3 in the morning.

Thumb Puppet 25 October 2016, 07:31

I respect Mr. Mowaten because he does not use a crystal ball in his forecasts.

Missing humble 25 October 2016, 00:43

Caporal also obeys. He has received so many millions from Ebola and lost his freedom (Free Patriotic = neither Free, nor Patriotic)...he is just a doggy who obeys.