DAILY SCOPE: Franjieh: Aoun Our Candidate

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES

An-Nahar:

Franjieh A Serious Candidate.. Ball in March 14, Hizbullah's Court

As-Safir:

Is Franjieh's Candidature Correlated to Syrian Crisis?

Future:

Franjieh Mentions Serious yet Unofficial Candidature', Confirms Aoun Still Main Candidate

Al-Akhbar:

Nasrallah to Aoun: You and I one

Al-Joumhouriya:

State of "Wait and See" Prevails

The Lebanese newspapers chose Thursday to shed light on the results of the dialogue session on Wednesday, particularly the possibilities of ending the vacancy in the Presidency's chair.

Beirut Dialogue: Side Talks Conjure Paris Dialogue... No Explanations!

In this context, "as-Safir" newspaper wrote: "Perhaps the accurate description that would be related to the 11th dialogue session, is that Wednesday was similar to a "waiting room" to what would result from the Beirut-Paris ongoing consultations, especially after the latest meeting between Saad Hariri and Suleiman Franjieh, nominating the latter as a serious candidate for presidency."

According to the daily, "although not approached in the dialogue, the consultations represented the biggest attendee in the dialogue room, with the absence of MP Michael Aoun, among the other participants' crowdedness around Franjieh and holding "private meetings" with him in some corners, questioning what happened during his Paris meeting."

"The attendees waited to hear from the Zgharta leader many answers about the ratio of seriousness in the dialogue between him and Hariri," it revealed, noting that "Franjieh left things vague."

As-Safir further highlighted that "the dialogue's session was short in comparison with the previous ones, it lasted less than two hours. The discussions were general and didn't mention the issue of presidency at all."

Franjieh A Serious Candidate

For its part, an-Nahar newspaper viewed that the "Marada" chief, Franjieh known with his frankness, left no space for speculations regarding "his candidacy."

He succeeded in turning the eleventh round of the national dialogue in Ain Tineh to a main platform preparing for his serious nomination.

Franjieh appeared in the dialogue session, which ironically absented the Presidency's subject, as "the star candidate".

This comes as the closed session witnessed "standing" meetings, reflecting the "troubled" climate that appeared after Hariri- Franjieh's secret meeting in Paris last week.

Nasrallah to Aoun: You and I one

On the same issue, "al-Akhbar" newspaper wrote: "Some Future Movement leaders act as if MP Franjieh will be elected a president within days. They are sure that this decision was made by the Saudi king, via his son the crown prince Mohammad bin Salman."

It also uncovered that "in the beginning, the Future Movement's idea was centered on the necessity of Saad Hariri to return back as a PM, which would not be achieved without settlement with Hizbullah."

"Looking for chances of settlement started," al-Akhbar stated, noting that "this has no title but granting presidency for the March 8 and its allies."

Meanwhile, it detailed the following, "Saudi Arabia vetoes MP Michael Aoun, and the March 8 forces neither agrees on Lebanese Army Chief General Jean Qahwaji, nor as former minister Jean Obeid as a balanced price for Hariri's heading the government."

"Who is left among the candidates that would comfort Hizbullah and its allies? There is not but a single answer: Suleiman Franjieh.

After consultations with MP Walid Jumblat, among other local political forces, Hariri discussed the issue with the crown prince Hamad bin Salman."

On the other hand, the newspaper uncovered that: "Few days ago, communications took place between Hizbullah and Aoun, as well as between Aoun and Geagea."
"In principal, Hizbullah doesn't object Franjieh being the president. He is a close ally. However, Hizbullah's candidate is Aoun."

According to the daily, Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's delegate to Rabieh told Aoun few days ago, on behalf of the Sayyed: "You and I are one person. We will not participate in any presidential settlement unless you agree on it. As long as you are our candidate, then we support your candidacy."

The newspaper informed that: "These words were enough to reassure the General and the team surrounding him. Hizbullah is working to provide communication between Aoun and Franjieh. Yet, it still didn't accomplish it. Chief of al-Marada Movement wanted to make benefit from the dialogue yesterday and break the ice with Aoun, but he couldn't make it as the Head of Change and Reform Bloc was absent from the session." Many explained his absence considering he was not willing to meet Franjieh "by any chance."

Waiting and watching dominate this phase, and communications are active. No presidential settlement is made yet."

Nothing Final

Besides, the "al-Jomhouriya" newspaper said the presidential settlement dominates the talks in Lebanon. Neither did the Russian-Turkish clashes, with all dimensions, backgrounds and results, dominate the area of discussion, nor did the terrorism roaming among the capitals receive the follow-up it deserves. This also applies on all internal issues, beginning with the dialogue that rotates around itself, passing by the out of order government, to reach the garbage issue and its delayed solutions. They are not issues that matter to the Lebanese anymore.

This would probably be healthy and suitable, because electing a new president after a year and a half of Presidential void would affect the entire political scene, especially in case MP Suleiman Franjieh was elected for presidency, with the initiative of the "Future Movement," which would lead to mixing up all the present coalitions, as well as the emergence of a new political map that folds the pages of both March 8 and March 14 together.

The stances and indicators showed that the settlement is very serious, but this doesn't mean that there are no obstacles in its way. Hence, it is still possible that it would dissolute, the same as it is possible that it would succeed. Therefore, breaths are hold tightly, and all sides, that preferred to avoid announcements, are seriously following up and working behind the scenes either to abort the settlement or to allow its birth.

It was noteworthy that Head of the "Change and Reform Bloc" General Michel Aoun was absent from the dialogue session yesterday, perhaps sending a dual message that: "He doesn't want to preserve formalities while the settlement is being cooked on strong fire, and he doesn't want to meet Franjieh.

Anyhow, political life is witnessing exceptional movement and communications between all sides. It is expected that the forthcoming settlement will be clear in the coming days.""

Source: al-Ahed News