Recently, it was revealed that Suleiman Franjieh, the head of the Marada Movement, visited Paris at the beginning of this month at the invitation of the French. Franjieh had meetings with top French officials, but it is not confirmed if he met with French President Emmanuel Macron. The French expanded the discussion on political and reform steps if Franjieh becomes president. They are considering a settlement that includes positions in the presidency and government as part of a comprehensive plan for the next government in Lebanon. The French also discussed their first round of contacts with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Franjieh spoke honestly regarding his relationships with Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The French asked Franjieh regarding the next government and its mechanism of action, as well as the Bank of Lebanon and governance. The French renewed their proposal for Ambassador Nawaf Salam to head the first government of the new era, and Franjieh did not object. The next government will need to make decisions regarding these files that have been discussed among everyone.
During the past hours, details of the visit of the head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Franjieh, to Paris at the beginning of this month were revealed. The data showed that the visit, which took place at a French invitation and was conveyed by the advisor in the French presidency, Patrick Dorrell, to Franjieh, witnessed several meetings between Franjieh and high-level French officials, but the two parties refused to confirm whether one of these meetings brought together the head of the Marada Movement and French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the sources, the French have expanded the circle of discussion regarding what can be achieved in terms of political and reform steps in the event that Franjieh reaches the presidency of the republic. The results of the first day’s meetings were reviewed in a morning meeting between Dorrell and Franjieh, before the latter returned to Beirut, where he briefed his allies in Hezbollah and the Amal movement on the results of the visit.
Al-Akhbar learned that the French were keen, before and during the visit, to formalize the meetings, and they explicitly said that they are considering a settlement that includes the positions of the presidency of the republic and the presidency of the government, as part of a comprehensive settlement related to the next stage and the plan for the new government in Lebanon to face various entitlements, in politics, security and relations. Foreign Affairs, while carefully considering the reform steps that should be taken quickly.
According to the information, the French informed their guest of the results of the first round of contacts that Macron made with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and informed him that the French president would soon contact the Saudi prince once more. It seemed that the French officials were aware of the positions of all the Lebanese parties, and were aware that some of the complexities shown by the positions of some of the main powers are closely related to the Saudi position. They also confirmed that Paris did not hear from any Saudi official that there was a “veto” on Franjieh’s candidacy. However, they made it clear that Riyadh and other parties have many concerns and questions that need explanations and clarifications from him, and that the matter is subject to understanding on these matters before proceeding with the settlement.
According to the information, Franjieh was very frank with the French, and spoke very clearly regarding his internal and external relations, and said that he is an ally of Hezbollah, which is considered a central force in Lebanon that no one can bypass, and that France is dialogue with the party in everything related to Lebanon, and that his relationship with the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad is not new, and “I will work to activate this relationship in a way that serves the interest of Lebanon in many areas.”
The French also asked the Lebanese visitor a number of questions related to the next government, its mechanism of action, ensuring its unity, the mechanism for approving reforms, the file of the Bank of Lebanon, and the position of governance. Franjieh stressed that Lebanon needs reforms without being asked by anyone. But these files that have been discussed and debated among everyone now, the next government will have to make decisions regarding them because the decision in the end is for the Council of Ministers.
Al-Akhbar learned that the French had renewed their proposal that Ambassador Nawaf Salam be the settlement candidate to head the first government of the new era, and Franjieh did not object to the matter. However, he indicated that in Lebanon there is a mechanism for choosing the prime minister by the deputies before the President of the Republic assigns him to form the government. He stressed that his allies support all the necessary steps to stop the collapse in Lebanon, and that he does not expect the emergence of serious problems regarding the formation of the government.
Source: Lebanese news
The visit of Suleiman Franjieh to Paris at the beginning of this month has raised significant interest in Lebanon and beyond. The details that have emerged suggest that the French have expanded the circle of discussion regarding what can be achieved in terms of political and reform steps if Franjieh reaches the presidency of the republic, and there are indications of a settlement that includes the positions of the presidency of the republic and the presidency of the government, as part of a comprehensive settlement related to the next stage and the plan for the new government in Lebanon. While Franjieh has been frank with the French regarding his internal and external relations, and stressed that Lebanon needs reforms, the French have asked a number of questions related to the next government, its mechanism of action, ensuring its unity, the mechanism for approving reforms, the file of the Bank of Lebanon, and the position of governance. The visit is likely to have significant implications for Lebanon’s future, and it will be important to monitor developments in the coming weeks and months.