BEIRUT — After a meeting of "centrist" parliamentary blocs, presidential candidate MP Neemat Frem announced that the majority of attendees would support Army Commander Joseph Aoun for the presidency if a consensus is reached on his candidacy.

Lebanon has been without a president for more than two years, with repeated parliamentary sessions failing to yield a successful election. After over a year of delay, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri finally scheduled a session for Jan. 9, a day after a cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel came into effect.

Frem, who declared his candidacy in mid-December, stated that Joseph Aoun's name "will be at the forefront of what U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein brings to Lebanon." Hochstein, currently in Lebanon, is expected to discuss both the cease-fire and the presidential elections with Lebanese officials.

MP Alain Aoun, a former member of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), noted after the meeting that "the presidential elections are primarily an internal matter, despite the need for alignment with international support." He added that Thursday's session "must be productive."

Meanwhile, MP Simon Abi Ramia, also a former FPM member, emphasized the need for deputies to unite, warning against electing a president who prioritizes the interests of one faction over another.