DAILY SCOPE: Presidential Discussion Continues, Faranjieh Warns of the Worse

Local Editor

Newspapers' Headlines:

An-Nahar:

Is 33rd Session to Elect president "The Charm"?

As-Safir:

Franjieh Warns against The Worse.. Bkirki Covers Him

Al-Akhbar:

Hariri, Jumblatt Eush for Frangjeh's Election

Al-Joumhouriya:

"Settlement" between Hollande, Hariri today

The Daily Star:

Hariri meets Hollande to crack presidency

As the Lebanese Parliament failed to elect a new President for 32nd time Wednesday, Presidential talk remains on top of political discussions. This comes nothing is final yet.

Franjieh Warns from the Worse... Bkerki Covers

To begin with, "as-Safir" newspaper wrote: "As the conditions of the presidential settlement are not ready yet, the session to elect a president yesterday was useless, just as the ones that preceded it. However, all eyes are on the forthcoming session which was appointed by Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri for December 16."

The paper added: "Of course the period between the last two sessions will be full of communications and negotiations seeking to free the Ba'abda Castle from the void, and to pave the way for electing MP Suleiman Franjieh, based on the attempt "to convince his allies in March 8 and assure his rivals in March 14", the dominant equation launched by "Marada" Chief himself before having dinner last night with the first "to promise" his nomination, MP Walid Jumblat in Clemenceau, stressing that the choice is whether to seize the current opportunity or go to a situation that is worse than the current one."

"As-Safir" continued: "Although Franjieh's visit to pay condolences for General Michael Aoun for the death of his younger brother couldn't be accompanied with additional political load, yet this social duty contributed at least to breaking the ice of relationships between both figures, which thickened after the Paris meeting between Franjieh and PM Saad Hariri, and which would also pave the way to a frank political session between the "General" and the "Marada" Chief soon."

Would the 33rd Session to Elect President be "Fixed"?

For its part, "an-Nahar" newspaper explained: "In case the saying of "the third is fixed" is positively common in Lebanon, then repeating number "3" would carry more hope represented in getting rid of the presidential void that is a year and a half old. The next session to elect a president is the 33rd, set to be held on December 16. According to an informed source, the coming session would either carry a president for Lebanon, or the efforts would have been failed, so the country would be again on the long path of waiting other unguaranteed regional developments."

The newspaper added that "MP Suleiman Franjieh, who remained silent after he was nominated for presidency by PM Saad Hariri, recalled yesterday from Clemenceau the experience of the test used to be done by late leader Kamal Jumblat for every presidential candidate, saying that his candidacy is a chance that if it wasn't seized, it is considered a step in the unknown, because "the situation will be worse than it is today."

Hariri and Jumblat in a Hurry to Elect Franjieh

In addition, "al-Akhbar" newspaper said: "Yesterday, some indicators signaled the hurry of PM Saad Hariri and MP Walid Jumblat to elect MP Suleiman Franjieh for presidency. According to several sources with different political affiliations, Hariri will announce the next week in public the official nomination of Franjieh for presidency.

According to the same sources, Hariri will appear on television before going in an interview with some Lebanese channel. Yesterday, several political and media sides were busy examining the rumors saying he will appear today, after visiting French President Francois Hollande, on the LBCI channel, which proved untrue."

The paper added, "The vision "optimistic" in "electing Franjieh settlement" notes that Hariri's announcing officially the nomination of Head of Marada Movement, will be followed by the step of solving the obstacle represented in Head of Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea who strongly opposes Franjieh's presidency. After this problem is solved, according to the optimists, General Michael Aoun will announce his agreement on his ally for presidency.

However, less optimistic sources still see many more problems. It is not easy to convince Samir Geagea with supporting Franjieh. His sources assert that he will keep opposing "until the end, even if he remained alone without allies." Geagea is still waiting a date to visit Saudi Arabia, betting on hindering the Hariri presidential effort from Riyadh. Also in Riyadh, it is expected that the Head of Future Movement will meet his Lebanese allies after leaving Paris, in an attempt to convince them with supporting his tendency to elect Franjieh soon."

"Settlement" between Hollande and Hariri Today... A "Presidential Dinner" at Jumblat's

"Al-Joumhouriya" newspaper considered that: "With announcing the date of a new presidential election session on December 16, before the period of holidays, the "presidential settlement" remained roaming between Paris, where the French President Francois Hollande is to meet PM Saad Hariri on 10:30 in the morning, who will meet some March 14 figures as well, and Riyadh that is expected to be visited by Head of "Lebanese Forces" party Dr. Samir Geagea, and Beirut where the Saudi Ambassador Ali Awwad al-Assiri is shifting his visits between Ain Tineh and the governmental palace.

The paper added: "This settlement was a full-fat plate in the "presidential dinner" hosted by MP Walid Jumblat in Clemenceau for the presidential unofficial candidate Head of "Marada" Movement MP Suleiman Franjieh, while it was never mentioned during the visit Franjieh made yesterday to the Head of "Change and Reform" Bloc MP Michael Aoun in Rabieh, to pay condolences for the death of Aoun's brother. Although people in the mourning noticed "whispering" for a while between the two men, Franjieh noted that "they didn't talk in politics, this is a condolence duty," explaining that there is no problem, and they will discuss the issue later."

Source: al-Ahed news