Bou Saab will not cast a blank vote, what about the FPM MPs?

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab has said that he will not cast a blank vote in Thursday's presidential election session.

Bou saab told LBCI that "blank ballots are no longer acceptable," and that all the MPs of the Free Patriotic movement have agreed on this.

He said that the Strong Lebanon bloc will have further discussions on Tuesday. "I hope the bloc will agree on a name instead of casting a blank vote."

Bou Saab added that he hasn't yet decided who he will vote for but that he will definitely vote for a candidate.

According to the Deputy Speaker, any "confrontational" candidate has no chances, and this is why the blocs should find an non-confrontational president through consultations.

"Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has asked me to hold consultations with the parliamentary blocs, as a Deputy Speaker," Bou Saab said, adding that he will communicate with the parties this week to launch consultations.

"It could be through a dialogue headed by Berri, or through separate consultations," Bou Saab said.

Berri had cancelled last week his invitation for a national dialogue so that political parties can agree on a new president.

Berri's media office said that the speaker decided to cancel his initiative following "objections" from the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement.