Report: Franjieh, Miqati Won’t Join Parliament Blocs

The Marada Movement of MP Suleiman Franjieh said that negotiations with ex-PM and MP-elect Najib Miqati to form a joint parliamentary bloc “did not lead to positive results,” al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

“Discussions with the former prime minister about joining the parliamentary bloc which Franjieh seeks to form in the parliament did not heap positive results,” Marada sources told the daily.

MP-elect Toni Franjieh, son of Suleiman, and Miqati have won seats in Tripoli’s parliamentary elections.

“Miqati refuses to join a bloc that is not under his chairmanship,” they said, adding “he is a former prime minister and has big popularity in the north which made him the first winner in his electoral district.”

Al-Joumhouria daily on the other hand said, “the two men were in perfect agreement during a meeting they held on Friday, and that they have agreed to put efforts together in the interests of the North.”

However, at the political level they reportedly agreed to work as two separate blocs.

“Mikati will continue his contacts to form a parliamentary bloc with independent deputies,” said al-Joumhouria.