Al Safir newspaper reported that those who met recently Free patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun were shocked to hear him say : “Does Hezbollah really want me to be the next president of the republic ? Does ( MP Suleiman) Franjieh really want me to be the president of the republic?”
As Safir added: “Aoun’s visitors came out with the impression that practically everyone is against his candidacy for the presidency….Both his opponents and and his allies . Nevertheless, Aoun does not want to move on to plan “B” , which calls for finding a consensus president
As Safir quoted the leader of the Lebanese Forces ” Samir Geagea as saying :” I am still waiting for an answer to my request for an appointment to meet with Aoun in order to agree on a consensus president that is acceptable to all parties .” But As Safir said Aoun seems to have forgotten about the request. One of Aoun’s visitors recently told him:” I am still waiting for an answer from you regarding (meeting with ) Geagea, Aoun responded : “What do you mean, what about the answer?”
The Lebanese parliament failed again on October 9 and for the thirteenth time in a row to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman whose term ended on May 25.
As in the past sessions the parliament was unable to reach a quorum because the MPS of the Iranian backed Hezbollah militant group and its ally Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc boycotted the sessions.
Geagea who was the first to announce his candidacy for the presidential office blasted the MPs of Hezbollah led March 8 alliance over their failure to attend the session .
“Four months without a president is unacceptable, ” he said during a press conference on October 9.
Assad endorsed Aoun
Syrian President Bashar Assad is the only one who officially threw his support behind Aoun’s candidacy describing him as an “honest man,” and saying he would welcome his election as the next Lebanese president.
In an interview with al-Akhbar daily published on June 11 2014 , Assad stressed that his country does not interfere in the local affairs of any Arab state but nevertheless he added: “Aoun is an honorable and honest man who fought with dignity and reconciled with dignity and remained loyal to his stance towards us despite all the storms.”
“We welcome Aoun’s election as a president for being in Lebanon’s interest and in the interest of friendly ties,” he stressed
The FPM chief is “patriotic, non confessional and believes in the resistance,” Assad added.
Assad’s endorsement came after Aoun was quoted by Al Joumhouria newspaper as saying last June on the eve of the presidential elections in Syria that Assad deserves a Nobel prize for combating terrorism.
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