Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed

Bloc holding on to Franjieh amid plots: Ali Hassan Khalil - Exclusive

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 16 Jun 2023 23:42
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Lebanese MP and former minister Ali Hassan Khalil underlines that his bloc and its allies are adhering to minister Suleiman Franjieh as the sole option for President.

  • x
  • Lebanese MP Ali Hassan Khalil during an interview on Al Mayadeen, Beirut, Lebanon, June 16, 2023
    Lebanese MP Ali Hassan Khalil during an interview on Al Mayadeen, Beirut, Lebanon, June 16, 2023

The statements made by the reformist MPs regarding the presidential election session indicate that the Development and Liberation bloc and its allies were facing immense pressure, Ali Hassan Khalil, the political aide to House Speaker Nabih Berri and Member of Parliament told Al Mayadeen on Friday during an interview about the situation in Lebanon following the failed Parliament session aimed at electing a President for the country.

For the 12th time in a row, the Lebanese parliament failed to elect a president of the Lebanese Republic during the latest session.

The vote count showed 51 votes going to former Minister Suleiman Franjieh, 59 going to former Minister Jihad Azour, and 7 going to former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.

All 128 MPs were present in the Lebanese Parliament's 12th session which was the highest number of present MPs since the first presidential election session according to an Al Mayadeen correspondent.

"External and internal pressures were exerted on some MPs," Khalil added, explaining that "some were planning to lead the country into uncertainty by claiming that candidate Jihad Azour received more than 65 votes and had won."

"The stances of the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb Party suggest their involvement in this dangerous scheme," he asserted. "No rational individual would think that such matter would pass without pushing the country into a major crisis."

Creating such a "confusing" constitutional status quo, Khalil said, could be considered a form of warfare. "Saudi Arabia was part of the dangerous plan being prepared after the last session," he asserted.

"The Progressive Socialist Party and Minister Walid Jumblatt justified voting for Azour by stating that he would not succeed and that it was a test, but we were not convinced," Khalil underlined.

Furthermore, he stressed his party's commitment to nominating Minister Suleiman Franjieh affirming its "willingness to engage in dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement, but the FPM's leadership set the precondition of excluding Franjieh."

Media reports said a number of MPs left the session immediately after they cast their votes during the first round. These MPs did not wait for the voting results which was a clear indication of an intention to force the parliament to fail to meet the quorum before reaching the second ballot.

It is worth noting that the Lebanese Parliament's Resistance Bloc MP, Hassan Fadlallah, said on the sidelines of the session, prior to its beginning, that "what brings together those who agreed on the other candidate is to seek to overthrow candidate Suleiman Franjieh."

The Lebanese opposition, which has vocalized its disapproval of the former President and Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun during the October 2019 Revolution, announced the nomination of an official in the International Monetary Fund and former minister, Jihad Azour, for president. Azour then became the opponent the first candidate to have been publicly supported, former Lebanese minister, and Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh.

Azour served as the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund. He served as the Lebanese Minister of Finance between 2005 and 2008 under the government of Fouad Al-Sanioura. 

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) back in 2013 published the book "Al Ibra Al Mustahil", translated into "The Impossible Absolution", which accused Al-Sanioura's government, in which Azour served as Financial Minister, of multiple financial scandals.

  • Suleiman Franjieh
  • Beirut
  • Nabih Berri
  • Lebanon
  • Jihad Azour
  • Ali Hassan Khalil

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS