Report: U.S. to Intensify Efforts to End Presidential Vacuum
U.S. Charge d'Affaires Richard Jones had held talks on Friday with Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh in what An Nahar daily said on Saturday was the beginning of efforts by Washington to resolve the presidential vacuum.
The diplomatic efforts will continue after Monday as part of a series of meetings that will examine “guarantees” linked to the elections, said An Nahar.
Franjieh has emerged as an unofficial presidential candidate in recent days in the wake of talks he had held last week with Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri.
There has been intense media speculation on whether he will be a presidential candidate, despite reservations expressed by the March 14 alliance over the issue due to the lawmaker's close ties to the Syrian regime.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
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