Hezbollah backs Christian politician Frangieh to become Lebanon’s president

By Wassim Seif El Din

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – Lebanese group Hezbollah on Monday announced support for Maronite Christian politician Suleiman Frangieh to become the country’s next president.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said he met with Gebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.

“I told Bassil that Hezbollah sees him and Suleiman Frangieh as candidates for presidency,” Nasrallah said in a speech.

Bassil has not applied to run for the post to replace former President Michel Aoun, who left the office in October 2022 after a six-year term.

“The natural candidate that we back in the presidential elections and has the specifications that we take into consideration is minister Suleiman Frangieh,” Nasrallah said.

The Hezbollah chief said he has started dialogue with allies to back Frangieh for presidency.

Frangieh, 57, served in several ministerial posts, including health and housing.

The Lebanese parliament has failed to elect a new president despite holding several sessions since September.

A candidate needs two-thirds of the vote, or 86 lawmakers, to make it through the first stage. An absolute majority is needed in subsequent rounds.

Parliamentary blocs, including the Lebanese Forces Party, accuse lawmakers affiliated with Hezbollah and its allies of hindering the election of a new president.

Hezbollah, for its part, rejects the accusation, saying it seeks a president who "will not stab the resistance in the back".

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing a crippling economic crisis that, according to the World Bank, is one of the worst the world has seen in modern times.

The country has been without a fully functioning government since May, with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his Cabinet having limited powers in their current caretaker status.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar