Naharnet

Report: Geagea Shunned Helou but Jumblat to Contact LF Chief

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has so far excluded Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea from his visit to top Lebanese officials after the latter refused to hold talks with presidential candidate Aley MP Henri Helou, a report said Tuesday.

Helou, who is the centrist PSP's candidate for the presidency, had contacted the LF leadership to set a date for a meeting with Geagea, al-Akhbar daily quoted PSP officials as saying.

But Helou was not given an appointment under the excuse that Geagea, also a presidential candidate, was still in mourning over the death of his father, the officials said.

The Aley lawmaker allegedly contacted again the LF leadership, which responded “Geagea is currently unable to welcome you.”

The shunning of Helou prompted Jumblat to avoid a visit to Geagea, al-Akhbar said.

The PSP leader had been visiting party leaders to discuss with them the rising terrorist threat and the presidential deadlock.

The daily quoted an LF MP as saying however that ties between the two parties were “good.”

Jumblat also justified the failure to meet with Geagea on his recent travel abroad and said he would ask for an appointment next week.


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