Sleiman Frangieh, left, shakes hands with Gebran Bassil during a meeting of Maronite MPs in Bkirki. (Maronite Church website/Stock photo)
The ball is now in Gebran Bassil’s court. While Saudi Arabia has reiterated that it has no veto on any presidential candidate — including Sleiman Frangieh, Amal and Hezbollah’s favorite candidate — the keys to Baabda Palace are now at [the FPM headquarters in] Mirna Chalouhi.In the event the Free Patriotic Movement leader ended up rallying behind the Zgharta zaïm, he would then provide him with the Christian legitimacy and the needed quorum for the session to elect him president.So far, the FPM is sticking to its position, refusing to endorse Frangieh’s election, claiming that the “differences in opinion” between the two parties are too great.The opposition camp is also trying to reach an agreement with the FPM on a candidate capable of facing Hezbollah’s candidate. Various parties involved in the negotiations have indicated FPM...
The ball is now in Gebran Bassil’s court. While Saudi Arabia has reiterated that it has no veto on any presidential candidate — including Sleiman Frangieh, Amal and Hezbollah’s favorite candidate — the keys to Baabda Palace are now at [the FPM headquarters in] Mirna Chalouhi.In the event the Free Patriotic Movement leader ended up rallying behind the Zgharta zaïm, he would then provide him with the Christian legitimacy and the needed quorum for the session to elect him president.So far, the FPM is sticking to its position, refusing to endorse Frangieh’s election, claiming that the “differences in opinion” between the two parties are too great.The opposition camp is also trying to reach an agreement with the FPM on a candidate capable of facing Hezbollah’s candidate. Various parties involved in the negotiations have...