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Joseph Aoun is 'in the lead' of presidential race, PSP says from Bkirki

Joseph Aoun is 'in the lead' of presidential race, PSP says from Bkirki

A delegation of the Progressive Socialist Party meets with the head of the Maronite Church Bechara al-Rai (c) in Bkirki, Jan. 31, 2023. (Credit: Al-Anba')

BEIRUT — Lebanese army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun is "in the lead" among candidates for president, Progressive Socialist Party MP Ragy El Saad (Aley) said on Tuesday during a visit to Maronite patriarch Bechara al-Rai in Bkirki.

"We have agreed with the patriarch on the need to elect a president as soon as possible," Saad said in a televised statement after the meeting, which included MP Teymour Joumblatt (PSP/Chouf). Saad added that "there is no solution [to the crisis in Lebanon] outside the constitution, the Taif Agreement, the election of a president, the end of the presidential vacancy and the implementation of reforms."

Saad then mentioned three "compromise" candidates that the PSP leader had proposed to Hezbollah during their last meeting 11 days ago. The candidates are Joseph Aoun, former MP Salah Honein and the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia director, Jihad Azour.

"There is still no agreement on a candidate, but there is a hierarchy among the names proposed, and that of the commander-in-chief of the army is in the lead, not only for the PSP but for other parliamentary groups and foreign countries as well," Saad said. "If there is a broad agreement around Joseph Aoun, the constitution must be amended, that goes without saying ... but we are not there yet," he added.

Members of the military may not run for president unless they are retired or their resignation was accepted six months prior to the election.

The PSP MP also said that "the patriarch has not taken a position or shown any preference regarding the three candidates."

Saad added "there must be an agreement to elect a president," noting that so far, no candidate has garnered the majority 35 votes required to win office. "If there was an agreement with Hezbollah, we would have succeeded in electing a president," he said, stressing that "Hezbollah has its say" in this matter.

"If the Shiite tandem Amal-Hezbollah and [allied] Gebran Bassil do not make a decision, there will be no possibility of electing a candidate," Saad said.

The head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Bassil, announced on Sunday that he could run for president himself if no other person is agreed upon, while Hezbollah still insists on electing the head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh.

Lebanese MPs have failed in 11 parliamentary voting sessions to elect a successor to former president Michel Aoun, whose term of office ended Oct. 31. Zghara MP Michel Moawad, supported by the parliamentary opposition, as well as the PSP, has received the most votes, but not enough to be elected. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has not yet set a date for the next election session. 

BEIRUT — Lebanese army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun is "in the lead" among candidates for president, Progressive Socialist Party MP Ragy El Saad (Aley) said on Tuesday during a visit to Maronite patriarch Bechara al-Rai in Bkirki."We have agreed with the patriarch on the need to elect a president as soon as possible," Saad said in a televised statement after the meeting, which included MP Teymour...