Opposition nomination delayed as Bassil agrees to back Frem

The opposition has intensified its meetings to pick a presidential candidate from the nominees who enjoy Bkirki’s approval: Joseph Aoun, Jihaz Azour, Ziad Baroud, Neemat Frem and Salah Honein, informed political sources said.

“Azour and Frem are in the lead over the other candidates,” the sources told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal in remarks published Tuesday.

The sources also attributed the delay in announcing the name of the candidate who enjoys the support of the opposition Christian blocs to “the ongoing contacts behind the scenes with MP Jebran Bassil, after he informed them of his agreement to back Frem’s nomination.”

“But Bassil is linking this stance to knowing whether Hezbollah is willing to withdraw Franjieh from the race,” the sources added.

“This means that the declaration of the opposition’s candidate will be delayed to next week, contrary to what was suggested over the past hours,” the sources went on to say.