Presidential candidate Michel Moawad during a TV interview on LBCI, May 14, 2023.
BEIRUT — Lebanese presidential candidate Michel Moawad said he will not withdraw his candidacy "except for a reformist, sovereign candidate who is able to gather all opposition forces," he said in a televised interview Sunday evening.
During the televised interview on LBCI channel, Moawad said he is "the first to look for other names."
"I am ready to withdraw [my candidacy] for a candidate located at the crossroads between the united opposition and the Free Patriotic Movement," the MP added.
Moawad urged Gebran Bassil's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) to "take its responsibilities" in the election.
In recent days, eyes are turning to the Aounist formation, especially from the opposition. Hezbollah, FPM's ally, supports the candidacy of Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh.
Believing that a Frangieh presidency "will accentuate the collapse" of the crisis-hit country, Moawad said: "It is not enough to have a program of refusal and to want to prevent a candidate of the mumanaa (a term used by Hezbollah's opponents to refer to the party and its allies) from accessing the presidency."
"We must gather the other political forces around an acceptable candidate," added Moawad.
Moawad was able to garner several dozen votes during Parliament's electoral sessions, but never not enough to ensure the presidency.
During his televised interview Sunday evening, Moawad urged Bassil to "show that his fight against Sleiman Frangieh is not personal" and "challenged" Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to "convene a new election session."
The last session was held in January. There have been 11 electoral sessions since September 2022, all of which were unsuccessful.
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun stepped down at the end of October.