The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
An-Nahar
Potential emergence of new candidates, one of whom could be shocking
An-Nahar has learned that in the wake of Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai’s insistence, and due to the unwillingness of Change and Reform bloc members to be seen as if they are blocking the presidential election, there is a possibility that they will attend the next parliamentary session and vote for their leader MP Michel Aoun, in return for others voting for Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
Meanwhile, ministerial sources said there is an attempt to find a consensus candidate -- not Samir Geagea or Michel Aoun – one who has the support of the Future Movement.
However, the suggested names are likely to cause a further delay as they would require a constitutional amendment.
Al-Joumhouria
Hale: Hariri didn’t say he’s against Aoun’s candidacy
Al-Joumhouria quoted US Ambassador David Hale as telling some Lebanese friends he visited recently that Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri neither said he supported Aoun’s candidacy, nor said he was against it.
Meanwhile, sources told Al-Joumhouria that Lebanese leaders who met Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal in Paris recently felt Faisal was not enthusiastic about Aoun’s nomination for president.
The significant development, however, was the meeting between Faisal and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt in Paris, which has been kept hush hush.
Al-Akhbar
Hariri told Aoun he is still promoting his name to Saudi
Al-Akhbar said that head of the Future Movement Saad Hariri has informed MP Michel Aoun that he is still promoting his candidacy to Saudi officials.
Meanwhile, visitors quoted Aoun as saying that he was still in touch with Hariri.
Aoun said Hariri told him: “I’m doing all I can to convince the Saudis to elect you president.”
Ad-Diyar
Talk about decisive role by political forces to select a president is a “joke”
Well-informed political sources told Ad-Diyar that talk about an effective and decisive role being played by the Lebanese political parties in determining the next president was “just a joke,” with the presidential election being discussed outside Lebanon due to the inability of local political forces to settle the crisis.
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