Report: Mustaqbal, FPM, Marada Consider Forming Electoral Alliance

Contacts are reportedly underway between al-Mustaqbal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Marada Movement in order to strike an electoral alliance to stand in the upcoming parliamentary elections, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The matter has not been yet resolved pending the completion of negotiations between head of Mustaqbal PM Saad Hariri and Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, said the daily.

Franjieh has previously announced the possibility of striking a coalition with Msutaqbal in the polls scheduled in May, 2018.

On the other hand, the Kuwaiti As-Seyasah daily said “the FPM and Marada Movement will likely hold a meeting in the next stage to discuss the elections issue.”

Meanwhile, MP Butros Harb “is heading in principle towards an alliance with the Marada, now that the chances of his alliance with the Lebanese Forces have diminished.”

Lebanon has set a date of May 6, 2018 to hold its first legislative election in nearly a decade.

For the first time, Lebanese nationals living overseas will be able to cast ballots in early voting.

Lebanon's parliament has postponed elections several times over security reasons. Its term was supposed to expire in 2013 but lawmakers approved several extensions since then.