LF would not obstruct quorum of a "Frangieh election session": Sources

The presidential stalemate seems to last long, in light of the continued entrenchment of various forces behind their positions and choices for candidates.

Hence, it isn't easy to talk about possibilities that put things on the path of consensus to elect a president.

The Free Patriotic Movement set its ceilings: it decisively closed the door in the face of candidate the Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh. The FPM also said no to electing a military commander whenever it is impossible to select a civilian president.

This rejection is also supported by the Amal-Hezbollah duo. Speaker Nabih Berri is not enthusiastic about amending the constitution to allow the army commander access to the first chair.

Hezbollah rejects Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Major General Joseph Aoun because it is uncomfortable with the impact of his relationship as army commander with the Americans on his policy as president of the country. This was conveyed by Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in one of his speeches not long ago.

Thus, the FPM's only remaining option is to agree on a third name with the allies and others, with clear and explicit specifications. However, this is impossible, at least at the current stage.

The Lebanese Forces has began to discuss a third presidential candidate after its failure and the failure of the supporters of MP Michel Moawad's candidacy to raise the number of his voters to 65.

The Lebanese Forces refuses to agree on the election of a president whom it calls "a president from the so-called resistance axis," knowing that it and its allies will not convince others to elect Moawad.

Thus, any dialogue about a third option can bring everyone together and result in a president from outside the alignment.

But waiting for any such solution, the Lebanese Forces and their allies will continue to vote for Moawad in every session Berri calls for, even if they are sure his chances are very slim.

The Lebanese Forces would only withdraw this support for Moawad in the event of agreement on a third name with the others. 

Suppose understandings among Hezbollah and its allies push towards the election of Frangieh. In that case, LF sources confirm that it will not contribute to "blowing" the quorum of any session known to be for Fragnieh's election, mainly if the latter succeeded in forming a solid majority. 

LF will not play the same obstructive role as Hezbollah and its allies, its circles said, especially if the obstruction is without result.

In a more precise sense, LF will contribute to securing a quorum for Frangieh's election session without its MPs giving him their votes.

In any case, any talk of understanding in this direction is still premature as long as the internal ceilings are high and the external settlements could be on the horizon.