Obeid Meets al-Rahi, Says Lebanon 'Deserves a Consensual President'
Former minister Jean Obeid broke his silence on the issue of the the presidential elections on Tuesday, noting that the country “deserves a consensual president.”
“I did not discuss this issue with the patriarch,” Obeid told MTV in Bkirki when asked if his chances to reach the presidency have surged.
“I'm an advocate of pacification and understanding,” the ex-minister said after his talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
He noted that in a country like Lebanon, there can be no president “without pacification and understanding.”
“Throughout the country's history, there has always been a search for the president who would best reflect consensus among the parties,” Obeid pointed out.
Asked if Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh is his friend, Obeid said: “Of course he is.”
Asked about Franjieh's presidential nomination and about the latest presidential initiative, Obeid declined to comment, noting that he has informed the patriarch of his stance on the issue.
“A president must be elected as soon as possible,” Obeid added.
“The country deserves a consensual president,” he underlined.
Obeid ran for the presidency in 2008 and was considered to be a possible consensus candidate. Observers and media reports still consider him to be a potential compromise nominee.
Franjieh had recently emerged as a possible consensus candidate after he met in Paris with al-Mustaqbal movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri.
But the Franjieh-Hariri initiative ran aground in recent weeks after it drew reservations and objections from the country's main Christian parties.
Hizbullah is also still clinging to the nomination of Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun.
Y.R.
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