The influential Lebanese Maronite patriarch travels to Paris on Monday to discuss the presidential election in Lebanon, where opponents of Hezbollah accuse Paris of supporting the candidate of this pro-Iranian formation.
Patriarch Bechara Rai, spiritual leader of the most influential Christian community in the country from which the Lebanese president comes, will discuss "the presidential file" Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, said a statement from the patriarchate.
The patriarch is expected to plead for a consensus-building candidate, as differences between powerful Hezbollah and its opponents prevent the election of a successor to Michel Aoun, whose term expired on October 31.
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Hezbollah does not have the necessary majority in parliament to impose its candidate, former minister Sleiman Frangie.
His opponents, notably from Christian parties, also failed to impose their candidate, Michel Moawad.
The France, for its part, says it does not support any candidate and is working for a compromise solution in the country in full economic collapse.
But Lebanese officials, recently visiting Paris, say the France supports the election of Mr. Frangié, accompanied by the appointment of a reformist prime minister, who must be from the Sunni Muslim community.
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I am convinced that the France has good intentions, it is trying to find solutions to get out of the deadlock (...) but we do not agree on the proposed solution, we consider it counterproductive, "says Sami Gemayel, leader of the Christian opposition party Kataeb. For him, the main thing is to "curb Hezbollah's stranglehold on Lebanon".
Gemayel says he is "making every effort to try to gather as many parties as possible around the name" of another candidate.
In his homily on Sunday, Patriarch Rai welcomed the fact that some parliamentary blocs would be close to agreeing on a candidate "who could meet Lebanon's needs and inspire confidence in Lebanon and abroad.
»According to Lebanese officials who requested anonymity, the Christian parties are trying to reach an agreement to nominate Jihad Azour, Middle East and Central Asia director for the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
But they could face opposition from Hezbollah, whose number two Naim Qassem criticized Monday on Twitter "those who are divided but try to unite to face Frangie".
