Lebanese soldiers in front of the Parliament building on May 31, 2022, at Place de l'Étoile in Beirut. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
BEIRUT — Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Tuesday he is "ready to consider" Lebanese Army Commander Joseph Aoun’s candidacy for president should Hezbollah and its allies announce their support for the general, in a statement released ahead of Thursday's parliamentary session dedicated to electing a new head of state.
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun’s term ended in late October 2022. None of the parliamentary sessions held since then have succeeded due to persistent disagreements among political factions. Amid a backdrop of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has not convened an electoral session for months. However, Berri officially called on lawmakers to attend a presidential election session scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m.
In a statement, Geagea noted that the "moumanaa" bloc — parties allied with Iran — and the Free Patriotic Movement, led by his political rival Gebran Bassil, have "categorically refused the idea of General Joseph Aoun becoming president." He emphasized that the Lebanese Forces have "always had good relations" with the army commander.
"When his name was proposed as a presidential candidate, the Lebanese Forces were among the first to consider him a serious option, without imposing a veto, pending further consultations," Geagea said. He added that his political opponents only "suggest that the Lebanese Forces are an obstacle" to Aoun’s candidacy "so they don’t have to openly express their refusal."
However, Geagea said, "If this camp were to publicly and officially change its mind by announcing its support for Joseph Aoun, we would be ready to closely examine this option."
Hezbollah's response
Hezbollah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan said that his party's candidate for the presidency remains former MP and Marada leader Sleiman Frangieh. “Debates are continuing within the parliamentary blocs,” and in particular between the blocs of Hezbollah and Amal's allies.
In an interview with Russian radio Sputnik on Tuesday, Hassan said he felt that “things should become clearer in the coming days, in the light of contacts.”
“Hezbollah's position will be announced in due course,” he told the radio station. No one could accuse his party of wanting to torpedo the election, he said.
Over the weekend, Wafic Safa, head of Hezbollah’s liaison unit, said his party has no veto on Aoun’s candidacy but firmly opposes Geagea, accusing him of pursuing a "destructive project." This comment sparked anger among Lebanese Forces supporters and officials.
The Lebanese Forces, along with lawmakers from protest movements and independents primarily opposed to Hezbollah, announced a "common plan" for the Jan. 9 session but did not provide details. Following a meeting of opposition lawmakers, Lebanese Forces MP Georges Okais said the "opposition blocs continue their meetings to coordinate." He expressed hope that Thursday’s session "will result in" the election of a president.
Mufti urges action
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdellatif Deriane urged lawmakers to "fulfill their constitutional duty" and elect a president on Thursday, calling for a leader who would "save Lebanon from the current chaos and prevent further disorder."
Deriane warned that any failure to elect a president would "give the Zionist enemy [Israel] the opportunity to exploit political divisions, undermining the unity and solidarity of the Lebanese and exposing the country to collapse."
