FPM bloc backs agreement with opposition, stops short of endorsing Azour
The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc has “extensively” discussed the “proposed choices” regarding the presidential vote, in a meeting held in the presence of ex-president Michel Aoun, a statement said.
The conferees backed “the bloc chief’s efforts regarding agreeing with the opposition on a presidential candidate whose name will be declared after specifying the choices and completing the consultations as to the program and the election mechanism,” the statement added.
The supposed candidate “should win the broadest parliamentary support on the basis of consensus and not imposition,” the statement said.
“Should that approach fail to materialize, there should be a democratic competition through voting in parliament, and the bloc stresses its belief that the election and success of a president during this period requires consensus and not challenge from anyone against anyone,” the FPM statement added.
Media reports had said that FPM chief Jebran Bassil would seek to convince five MPs of his bloc with endorsing Jihad Azour for the presidency. The reports identified the five lawmakers as Alain Aoun, Elias Bou Saab, Ibrahim Kanaan, Simon Abi Ramia and Asaad Dergham.
Source: Naharnet
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