Saudi-Iranian rapprochement… How does it affect the presidential vacancy in Lebanon?
Lebanon is approaching a year in a state of presidential vacancy and severe political and economic crises, amid expectations that the presidential vacancy will continue.
But the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement has changed the map for Lebanon’s candidates, especially those from Hezbollah, the political and military arm of Iran in Lebanon. The presidential candidates seek to please Riyadh in light of the rapprochement.
Many are looking to the Saudi capital Riyadh to clarify their position regarding the nominations for the presidency of the Lebanese Republic.
That will also become clearer following French President Macron’s visit to Riyadh, where the choice of Lebanese president will be clearer.
Suleiman Franjieh, head of the El-Marada Movement, is at the forefront of the Lebanese presidential race. He is the one who received full support from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and became its presidential candidate.
French Visit to Paris
Franjieh’s recent visit to Paris opened the door; however, Franjieh, who is supported by Hezbollah and the Amal movement, is close to Iran.
Observers believe that Franjieh’s visit to Paris comes within the framework of a French settlement based on the election of Franjieh as President and the nomination of Nawaf Salam to head the Council of Ministers. Franjieh’s visit came a few days after Macron’s telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
What’s the situation with Sulaiman Faranjieh?
Lebanese political analyst Tony Habib says that Lebanon categorically rejects Franjieh, and does not fulfill his conditions as president, but at the same time politically he announces his affiliation with the Syrian-Iranian axis, a project he may support after the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement and Macron’s visit to Riyadh will determine a lot of things.
He added: In light of the stagnation of the Lebanese internal movement, attention is turning to Riyadh on the background of the agreement with Tehran, and the rapprochement with Syria, which considers Franjieh one of its most important allies in Lebanon, and what supports Franjieh’s position is Hezbollah’s mediation in the negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
He said Franjieh is a flexible, consensual personality capable of communicating and does not deal with politics in person, and he will certainly gain a breakthrough in the opposition of major Christian parties, as well as most Sunnis in Lebanon are awaiting Riyadh’s position on the Lebanese presidential candidate.
