Franjieh chances decline as France, US change stance

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea is urging the Lebanese opposition to agree on an opponent to presidential candidate Suleiman Franjieh, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday.

The daily said that a grace period given to Paris to reach a consensual candidate has ended and that Shea has said that there is a chance to "break" Franjieh.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and his adviser Patrick Durel are facing criticism and opposition over France's stance "that might cause problems between France and Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and prominent Lebanese parties," al-Akhbar claimed, adding that the French opposing Macron's stance are pressuring him to stop backing Franjieh.

Another local media also said on Wednesday that French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo has told Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that Paris no longer backs Franjieh and "will not take any step that would harm the Christian and national interest."

Locally, the Free Patriotic Movement, the Lebanese Forces and other opposition and independent MPs have reportedly made progress and agreed on three potential candidates, former ministers Ziad Baroud and Jihad Azour, and former MP Salah Honein, while Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab ended a presidential initiative to break the impasse, by calling for dialogue.

"The first step of the initiative has been agreed upon and accepted by everyone. We must see a result within 10 days," Bou Saab said.

Democratic gathering bloc MP Hadi Abu el-Hosn told al-Anbaa news portal that all parties have accepted Bou Saab's initiative but that it still needs crystallization.

"It is not clear until now what form the dialogue will take and whether it will include consultations between political parties, or a national dialogue table," the lawmaker said, adding that the initiative still needs a framework and a deadline.