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Neemat Frem’s bid for consensus candidacy: Does he have what it takes?

Neemat Frem, an MP from Kesrouan, is presenting himself as a consensus presidential candidate with a “rescue” program, in an attempt to reposition himself in the center of the political spectrum.

Neemat Frem’s bid for consensus candidacy: Does he have what it takes?

MP Neemat Frem during a press briefing, Place de l'Etoile. (File photo from Parliament's Flickr account)

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa, published on Thursday, Neemat Frem, the Maronite MP from Kesrouan, presented himself as a reformist candidate with a “rescue” program amidst the ongoing presidential battle.

Although Frem had previously positioned himself as a figurehead of the opposition camp during legislative elections, he now seems to be reorienting himself toward the center of the political spectrum, mainly because the country is in search of a compromise figure after more than five months of presidential vacuum.

Many observers believe that the two main presidential candidates, MPs Michel Moawad for the opposition and Sleiman Frangieh for Hezbollah and its allies, are too politically entrenched to be accepted as viable options for Baabda.

This sentiment was compounded by the recent Paris meeting on Feb, 6, which brought together representatives from France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States and Egypt to address the Lebanese crisis.

The meeting called for the election of a head of state who would not pose a challenge to any political faction.

While some perceive Army chief Joseph Aoun as a prime compromise candidate , the general has faced increasing difficulties in promoting himself, particularly at the local level.

It remains uncertain whether Frem would be any more successful in this regard.

‘Let’s separate the economy from politics’

“We need to elect a president who carries a program that unifies the Lebanese,” Frem stated in his interview, setting the tone early on.

While Frem is affiliated with the opposition camp, he aims to maintain a pragmatic approach that does not alienate the Hezbollah camp.

This approach stands in contrast to that of his colleague from Zgharta, Michel Moawad, who is known for his firm opposition to Hezbollah.

Moawad’s candidacy has been blocked by the categorical veto of the party and its allies, who have withdrawn from each election session after the first round, causing a lack of quorum.

During the most recent electoral session a few weeks ago, Moawad received his lowest vote count since the start of the parliamentary election session (34 votes).

That same evening, Frem expressed his presidential aspirations in a televised interview. During the interview he seemingly courted Hezbollah, lauding the “economic vision” of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Frem also emphasized the need to address financial issues without being impeded by contentious political issues, such as the status of Hezbollah’s weapons.

The MP then traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast, taking advantage of the opportunity to campaign among American decision-makers.

“The project to save the country must be carried by a president who inspires confidence from the international community, the Arab world and local actors,” Frem stated in the al-Anbaa interview.

“[Frem’s] statements reminded us of Sleiman Frangieh,” a source close to Moawad told L’Orient-Le Jour, alluding to Frem’s conciliatory approach toward Hezbollah and his tendency to avoid contentious issues.

“The issue in Lebanon is primarily political and not technical,” Charles Jabbour, spokesperson for the Lebanese Forces (LF), the largest opposition party, told L’Orient-Le Jour. “But the two aspects are intertwined and cannot be separated.”

What about Moawad?

In his balancing act, Frem will need to tread carefully to avoid alienating his fellow opposition members and potentially losing their support.

“I still think he can be a good candidate,” stated Waddah Sadek, an independent MP. “But we need to meet with him and ask him directly about his positions.”

Sadek expressed her concerns, “We will need assurances from him. Will he address the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons? Will he allow it to further strengthen their control over institutions?”

The LF, however, has not completely ruled out the possibility of supporting Frem’s candidacy.

“We will observe how his campaign develops and if he can gather enough votes to be elected,” Jabbour said. “For now, our candidate remains Michel Moawad, and we are striving to secure 65 votes for him.”

Jabbour stressed that Hezbollah aims to prevent the election of any “sovereigntist” candidate, regardless of who they are.

Sadek said that if the opposition decides to switch to endorsing Frem’s candidacy, it would only be done in coordination with Moawad, who plays a vital role in their electoral strategy.

Frem will also need to persuade the other side of the political spectrum — a task that may prove difficult given his support for the Oct. 17, 2019, popular uprising against the current ruling power.

While the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) is searching for a third option candidate, the party is unlikely to endorse Frem due to lingering resentment from when he left the FPM parliamentary bloc in the wake of the 2019 protests.

“We do not see in him a person capable of carrying out a rescue project for the country,” a Free Patriotic Movement executive told L’Orient-Le Jour. “But we have not studied his candidacy seriously for the moment.”

This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour. Translation by Sahar Ghoussoub.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa, published on Thursday, Neemat Frem, the Maronite MP from Kesrouan, presented himself as a reformist candidate with a “rescue” program amidst the ongoing presidential battle.Although Frem had previously positioned himself as a figurehead of the opposition camp during legislative elections, he now seems to be reorienting himself toward the...