Hariri to Declare Support of Aoun's Nomination Thursday Afternoon
Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri is expected to officially announce his support of the presidential nomination of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun during a televised appearance that will be held on Thursday.
“Several MPs and figures have received invitations to attend Hariri's declaration of his support for Aoun's nomination tomorrow at 5:00 pm at the Center House,” LBCI television reported Wednesday.
A Mustaqbal Movement source meanwhile confirmed to al-Mayadeen television that Hariri will declare his support of Aoun on Thursday.
"Since Hariri has decided to endorse him, and save any last minute change, Michel Aoun will be elected by parliament on October 31," a senior politician told Agence France-Presse earlier in the day, declining to be named.
According to a source close to Hariri, the ex-prime minister struck a deal with Aoun to endorse him in exchange for his return as premier.
Hariri's previous endorsement of the candidacy of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh had been met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.
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.
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.
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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