Head of Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea said he was encouraged to nominate head of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun for two reasons; “the prolonged presidential vacuum for the past year and a half and the nomination of Head of Marada Movement MP Suleiman Frangieh, which cut the chance for the nomination of any other median or March 14 candidate.”
Geagea pointed out that the nomination was an enthronement for the announcement of good intentions between the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement, leaving behind the painful past.
“It’s too early to judge the positions of the political parties, for the initiative was not expected and the parties need some time to accumulate the new situation and base decisions upon it “, he added.
Geagea added that the head of Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Joumblatt was the first to take it positively, noting that his statement did not finalize Aoun’s nomination, but kept all possibilities open.
LF chief revealed that the last call with head of Future Movement Saad Hariri was conducted after the nomination of Frangieh, asserting that “their relations have not been so good recently, but he’s working on retrieving good relations.”
“There is no contact between LF and Hezbollah, but Aoun is communicating with them. There will be serious consequences if Hezbollah does not agree on nominating Aoun”, he explained.
Geagea said that a president will be elected at the end of the road and it might take some time, stressing that Parliament session on February 8th might not result in choosing one.