BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and MP Walid Jumblatt are firm in their support for MP Sleiman Frangieh’s candidacy, senior political sources said Tuesday, dealing a setback to MP Michel Aoun’s presidential chances and ruling out an imminent Parliament electoral session.
“Berri, Hariri and Jumblatt are committed to supporting MP Frangieh’s candidacy for the presidency. This means that no Parliament session to elect a president will be held soon,” a senior political source told The Daily Star.
“What we saw in Maarab yesterday will not change the current situation. There is no regional understanding over Lebanon,” the source said, in a reference to Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy during a joint news conference with the Free Patriotic Movement founder at the former’s residence in Maarab, north of Beirut.
“Furthermore, there is no local understanding over the name of the [next] president. MP Sleiman Frangieh will continue his candidacy. Therefore, the Future Movement, the Amal Movement and the Progressive Socialist Party will continue to support his candidacy,” the source added.
This comes a day after Geagea announced his support for his old-time rival Aoun for the presidency, in a surprise development that jolted the entire political landscape, raising questions about its motives and implications.
Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy is primarily aimed at wrecking the Marada Movement leader’s presidential chances, especially after the LF leader called on his allies in the March 14 coalition, led by the Future Movement, to rally behind Aoun’s bid.
Political sources close to Aoun said that the he wanted unanimous support in Parliament for his candidacy as a condition for him to attend an electoral session.
Berri has called for a new Parliament session on Feb. 8 to elect a president after 34 attempts since April 2014 have failed over a lack of quorum to choose a successor to former President Michel Sleiman, whose six-year term ended in May 2014. After Geagea’s announcement, Frangieh vowed to stay in the presidency race, in a challenge to the LF leader’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy.
Geagea’s decision to back Aoun came as Hariri’s initiative supporting Frangieh’s presidential bid has been stalled after drawing vehement opposition from the three main Christian parties: FPM, LF and the Kataeb Party.
Berri praised the Aoun-Geagea reconciliation as “a positive development” within the Christian community, but said it was not sufficient to end the 20-month-long presidential deadlock.
“What happened [between Aoun and Geagea] has confirmed my view that there are no animosities but rivalries between the Lebanese,” Berri was quoted as saying by visitors at his Ain al-Tineh residence Monday.
“Rivarly between Aoun and Geagea was the fiercest. Hence, what happened between them is an advanced step for the Lebanese society and a positive development at the Christian level. But it is not sufficient [to facilitate] the presidential election,” he added.
Berri refused to announce his stand on Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy, saying he will meet with the Amal Movement’s Command and Political Bureau to take an “appropriate stand.”
While Hariri has so far refrained from commenting on Geagea’s decision to back Aoun, the parliamentary Future bloc hailed “the reconciliation that took place between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement in Maarab.”
The bloc did not take a stand on Geagea’s decision, but underlined the “importance of holding the election to end the presidential vacancy.”
“The bloc is committed to [former] Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s instructions in this respect on the basis that the final say in this issue lies with Parliament under the democratic system and the Constitution,” according to a statement issued after the bloc’s weekly meeting.
Aoun praised the Future bloc’s statement as “positive and calm,” saying the final decision on the presidential election lay with Hariri.
“The decision lies with Hariri. It is clear that [former] Prime Minister Hariri has not yet decided whom he will support. The prospects are open,” Aoun said in an interview with OTV, the FPM-affiliated TV station, Tuesday night.
He said since Hariri is not in Lebanon to discuss with him the presidential election, he might talk to him by phone.
Aoun said that if Hariri does not talk to him by phone, this means that the Future Movement leader rejects his presidential candidacy.
Separately, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammad al-Attiyah described in an interview with Russia Today Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy as “wise,” saying it took Lebanon’s interest into consideration.
Despite Frangieh’s continued candidacy, Geagea sounded optimistic about Aoun’s election as president. He also said that Frangieh would eventually back Aoun for presidency as he has always been true to his word
“I am not pessimistic regarding Frangieh’s stance. Whether we agree in politics or not, he is a man of his word,” Geagea told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai at the latter’s seat in Bkirki, north of Beirut.
“He [Frangieh] has always said that if Gen. Aoun had chances in the presidential election, ‘I’ll vote for him,’” Geagea said. “I think that Gen. Aoun’s chances are high now. Therefore, I expect MP Frangieh to stick to his word.”
Geagea expressed hope that the various parliamentary blocs would endorse Aoun’s nomination and end the presidential vacuum at the nearest chance.
“Logically there is no reason for any negative reaction. We are ready to discuss the agreement with everyone,” he said.
He noted that contacts are ongoing with Hariri, describing their ties as “bigger than any political agreement.”
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil met with Berri in an attempt apparently aimed at enlisting the speaker’s support for Aoun’s candidacy. He said Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy opened the door to “a big breakthrough” to end the presidential vacuum.
“We are seeking a breakthrough that benefits all sides,” Bassil the FPM leader, told reporters after meeting Berri at Ain al-Tineh. “This is a new stage that sets the stage for a Christian and national agreement.”
“We will preserve our allies and meet with everyone else to reach an agreement,” he said. Bassil was accompanied by Education Minister Elias Bou Saab who described the meeting with Berri as “positive.”