Jumblat Says Franjieh Can be 'Compromise President' as Marada Chief Says Won't Disagree with Aoun

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced Wednesday that Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh is qualified to be a “compromise president” as the latter stressed that his possible nomination will not affect the unity of the March 8 camp.

“Walid Jumblat was the first figure who nominated me for the presidency in Lebanon and we will be on the same course in this period,” said Franjieh as he arrived for talks with Jumblat in Clemenceau.

“My nomination has not become official until the moment and I believe that ex-PM (Saad) Hariri is 100% honest in his support for me and that he was serious in everything he said,” Franjieh added.

He was referring to a Paris meeting with Hariri last month that has sparked intense speculation that the two leaders agreed to Franjieh's nomination for the presidency. Hariri has also met in the French capital with Jumblat and Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel.

As for his ties with Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun, Franjieh emphasized that he will not disagree with his ally and that “March 8 will only go unified to the presidential elections.”

“We do not want to eliminate or provoke anyone,” he added.

“General Aoun is a friend and we have come a long way together and we will stay together. I believe that national accord is more important than us all and we will only be together with General Aoun,” Franjieh said.

As for the stance of the Christian parties over his possible nomination, Franjieh said: “If Christians have a Christian motive to reject my nomination, then I will accept that, but if the motives are personal, my stance will be something else.”

Asked about the electoral law for parliamentary polls, the Marada chief said he cannot “achieve a settlement” over something he has no control over.

“We will meet halfway and put 'Lebanon first' as our objective, seeing as the living conditions (of Lebanese citizens) are the important issue nowadays,” he added.

For his part, Jumblat said that he will help in his “own way” to overcome any obstacles blocking Franjieh's nomination.

“Regardless of the settlement's fate, the relation will continue with Franjieh,” he added.

Y.R.