Hariri and Aoun discuss power vacuum

Lebanon’s former Prime Minister and Head of the Future Movement, Saad Hariri has met with the Free Patriotic Movement leader, MP Michel Aoun to discuss the power vacuum as the next vote to choose Lebanon’s president scheduled on May 25, before the constitutional deadline expires.

Observers believe that Hariri has agreed to support Aoun’s candidacy in exchange of returning as Lebanon’s prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported that Hariri and Aoun have founded an oil company to strengthen their political partnership ahead of the presidential vote.

The Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea and the Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt have also met with Hariri in Paris to discuss Lebanon’s power vacuum.

Following their meeting, Geagea was quoted as saying that “Hariri has indeed proposed Aoun as a consensus candidate”.

However, informed sources of the March 14 Alliance told al- Arabi al- Jadeed news site that Hariri confirmed his position and will support Geagea’s candidacy.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, a prominent Arab state which has been interested and influential in the Lebanese presidential election did not issue any statement on the Lebanese leaders meetings.

Informed sources believe that Saudi Arabian official are not in any hurry to choose Lebanon’s next president which indicates that the next constitutional deadline could pass without choosing a president to head Lebanon.