Report: Mustaqbal Kicks off Meetings with Presidential Candidates, Urges Parliament Attendance

A delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement will visit on Thursday the three presidential candidates in a bid to urge them to attend the next parliamentary session slated on March 2 to elect a president, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat reported on Thursday.

Unnamed sources from March 14 alliance said that a Mustaqbal delegation will visit the Change and Reform bloc leader, MP Michel Aoun, Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh and Democratic Gathering bloc MP Henri Helou.

Speaker Nabih Berri has called for the 36th parliament session to elect a head of state to fill the 21-month vacuum that has been lingering since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

The sources said that the tour on the three candidates may not bring out the desired outcome. They added: “This activity may not see fruition,” referring to the possibility that Hizbullah and Aoun will not back down on their previous stances in that regard.

Hizbullah has reiterated on several occasions that its sole candidate for the presidency is Aoun who was also endorsed by his long time rival Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea after withdrwaing from the race in his favor.

On the other hand, Franjieh was nominated by Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri.

Helou is the candidate of the Democratic Gathering bloc led by PSP leader MP Walid Jumblat.

D.A.

G.K.