Hariri, Geagea Discuss Presidency in Telephone Call
Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri held talks on Saturday with Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.
It said that the “prolonged telephone call” addressed the latest developments regarding the presidential elections, most notably efforts to elect Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh as president.
LF sources told LBCI television Sunday that the two officials agreed to keep any differences between them from developing into disputes.
They also agreed to “intensify contacts next week through mediators” during the telephone call that “was cordial and lasted about an hour.”
In an interview with al-Jadeed television, LF media officer Melhem Riachi said Geagea made the phone call, describing the conversation as “very cordial, interactive and democratic.”
Sources told al-Jadeed that the phone talks started with “a friendly reproach” between the two leaders.
“Geagea told Hariri that the problem is in the other camp, wondering why it was moved to the ranks of the March 14 forces,” as Hariri noted that he has “offered a solution,” the sources added.
Differences had emerged in recent weeks between Hariri and Geagea, both allies in the March 14 camp, over Franjieh's potential nomination.
Geagea is a candidate himself and Hariri has been leading efforts to nominate the Marada leader as president to end the vacuum in the country's top post.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
Hariri's drive to nominate Franjieh has been met with the objections of the LF, Kataeb Party, and Free Patriotic Movement.
Hizbullah is also reportedly still committed to the candidacy of its ally MP Michel Aoun, the head of the FPM.
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