BEIRUT: Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea Monday backed his rival MP Michel Aoun for the presidency, in a surprise about-face that could either help end the 20-month-long presidential deadlock, or lead to a realignment of forces on both sides of the political divide, further delaying a solution.
Geagea’s endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy is aimed to undermine MP Sleiman Frangieh’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.
In addition to marking a rare display of unity within the Christian community, riven for years by divisions and political feuds, Geagea’s dramatic move constituted an apparent break with the Future Movement, which is backing Frangieh for the country’s top Christian post.
The move also means that Geagea, who is backed by the March 14 coalition for the presidency, has actually dropped his candidacy in favor of Aoun.
There was no immediate comment from former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Hezbollah or March 14 and March 8 politicians on Geagea’s support for Aoun’s candidacy.
“After lengthy study, reflection, discussions and deliberations by the LF’s executive committee, I announce the Lebanese Forces’ endorsement of Gen. Michel Aoun’s candidacy for the presidency,” Geagea told a joint news conference, with Aoun sitting next to him, at the LF chief’s residence in Maarab, north of Beirut.
“The move raised hope to emerge from where we are now to a safer and more stable situation and normal life,” he said, in reference to the presidential vacuum, which has paralyzed the executive and legislative branches of power.
However, Frangieh vowed to stay in the presidency race in defiance of Geagea’s support for Aoun’s candidacy. “I am still a candidate for the presidency. Anyone who wants me, knows where my house is,” Frangieh told reporters after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai in Bkirki, hours after Geagea’s announcement.
Frangieh is ready to vote for Aoun if the latter can garner enough votes to be elected president, political sources said. But if Aoun fails to secure the required votes, Frangieh believes the Free Patriotic Movement leader should vote for him, the sources said.
Geagea’s announcement followed a private meeting with Aoun, who paid his first visit to Maarab to reciprocate the LF leader’s visit to the former’s residence in Rabieh, north of Beirut, in June last year during which the “Declaration of Intent” signed between the LF and the FPM was announced. The declaration outlined the two parties’ common vision on what best serves Lebanon’s Christians.After reading out a 10-point list of mutual understanding between the LF and the FPM that amounted to a nucleus of a presidential program, Geagea said: “Based on this clear political framework that prompted us to endorse this candidacy, I call on allied forces in the March 14 [coalition] and the Cedar Revolution to endorse Aoun’s candidacy.”
But Geagea still faces an uphill task to convince his March 14 allies, namely the Future Movement and the Kataeb Party, to get on board with the endorsement. He called on them to support Aoun to end the current presidential vacuum.
Ahead of Geagea’s decision, senior Future officials arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with Hariri on the presidential election.
“Aoun’s road to the Baabda [Palace] passes through Maarab,” Al-Jadeed TV commented in its prime time news bulletin Monday night.
Geagea said the presidential deadlock was in dire need of an “emergency plan,” as “all previous efforts to elect a head of state had failed.”
Aoun hailed Geagea’s endorsement of his presidential bid as a “historic day,” hoping his election as president would be smooth and win unanimity in Parliament.
He thanked the LF for supporting his presidential bid, saying he will do all he can to build a model Lebanon “for our children and grandchildren.”
“In this homeland, everyone has their position. We hope [to gain] unanimity which is in principle impossible, but will probably happen for just once,” Aoun said at the news conference with Geagea. “We will safeguard all the country’s components, Muslims and Christians. We have always defended plurality, diversity and coexistence.”
He said the “black chapter” between him and the LF was over “We hope the election process to be held smoothly in the near future. We will certainly be a cover for all the Lebanese. We did not deal with anyone with malice,” Aoun said.
Geagea, as a militia leader, and Aoun, as Army commander, fought fierce battles between each other during the final years of the 1975-90 Civil War.
Geagea’s decision to back Aoun comes as Hariri’s initiative backing Frangieh’s presidential bid has been stalled by strong opposition from the three main Christian parties: the LF, the FPM and the Kataeb Party. Also, the initiative has been put on hold due to the escalating Saudi-Iranian tensions over Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite preacher on Jan. 2.
Endorsement of Aoun’s candidacy has apparently won the blessing of Patriarch Rai, which is essential for the presidency reserved for a Maronite Christian. Shortly before Geagea’s announcement, the patriarch’s seat in Bkirki, north of Beirut, witnessed a flurry of activity. Rai met separately with Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, the FPM president, LF official Melhem Riachi and former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora before meeting with Aoun.
“We often come to Bkirki to discuss problems and carry mostly worrisome news, especially in this critical stage. But today we came carrying to the patriarch and the Lebanese a solution to all difficult problems,” Aoun told reporters after meeting Rai and before visiting Maarab. “We have laid the beginning of an essential solution” to the presidential crisis, he said.
Siniora said the presidential election crisis needed further consultations in what appeared to be an indirect jab at the LF.
“Electing a head of state is not only a Christian affair, but also a Lebanese affair par excellence. All the Lebanese are concerned with the election of a president,” Siniora told reporters after meeting Rai.
He called on political parties not to “rush and take stances as the presidential election crisis needs further local consultations.”
Asked if Geagea is still the Future Movement’s presidential candidate, Siniora said: “There has been contact between Hariri and Frangieh over the latter’s possible candidacy. But so far we only have two official candidates in Parliament: Gen. Aoun and Dr. Geagea.”
At the news conference, Geagea, a harsh critic of Hezbollah, made no mention of the party or its involvement in the 5-year-old war in Syria, apparently to avoid embarrassing Aoun, a key Christian ally of the group.
Geagea read out the previously announced mutual understanding between the LF and the FPM, including a foreign policy which “protects Lebanon and respects international laws.”
“We call for a new electoral law that fairly represents all of the country’s communities and brings balance to the state’s institutions,” Geagea said. “The Lebanese Army must morally and financially be supported, and it must, with all other security agencies, completely take control of the country’s security.”
Geagea affirmed that Israel was Lebanon’s “only enemy state,” adding that he and Aoun both refused that Lebanon be a haven or transit country for militants and arms smugglers.
“We call for the respect of the Constitution and a free, sovereign Lebanon with strong institutions, in compliance with the National Charter which came in the Taif Accord,” Geagea added, in reference to the agreement that ended the Civil War.
Geagea’s wife MP Strida Geagea hailed the “reconciliation,” saying it reminded her of the Mount Lebanon reconciliation in 2001 between Druze and Christians, who fought each other for many years during the Civil War.
“This event today is not meant to target any one person or party. This is for Lebanon’s benefit and future, first and foremost,” she told reporters after the news conference.