Lebanese Druze leader says most of his bloc supports Aoun for president

Record ID: 83643

  • Title: Lebanese Druze leader says most of his bloc supports Aoun for president
  • Date: 28th October 2016
  • Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF LEBANESE CHRISTIAN LEADER, MICHEL AOUN, MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER, TAMMAM SALAM SALAM AND AOUN SEATED AOUN GOVERNMENT HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF AOUN GREETING DRUZE LEADER, WALID JUMBLATT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DRUZE LEADER, WALID JUMBLATT, SAYING: ''The Progressive Socialist Party and most of the National Democratic Gathering members have agreed to support the nomination of General Michel for the presidency and this will translated effectively on Monday in parliament. There is a final consultation meeting tomorrow and I am sure that there will be some members who will be against this nomination but most of the bloc will support the nomination of Aoun for the presidency. After more than two years of waiting, it is time for us to get out of this crisis.'' VARIOUS OF AOUN AND JUMBLATT MEETING AOUN AND JUMBLATT SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, MICHEL AOUN, SAYING: ''We spoke about the future during my term in the presidency and we will cooperate together to build Lebanon and improve the living situation for the people and improve unity and thank you Walid Bek for your support.'' AOUN AND JUMBLATT SHAKING HANDS AOUN LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2016 18:04
  • Keywords: Lebanon presidency Michel Aoun Tamam Salam Walid Jumblatt politics Syria Hezbollah
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA00155X8093
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt said on Friday (October 28) the majority of his political bloc, the Democratic Gathering, will support Christian leader Michel Aoun to become president of Lebanon at a vote to be held on Monday (October 31).
    Jumblatt spoke to reporters after a meeting with Aoun on Friday. Lebanon has been without a president, a position reserved for a Maronite Christian, for almost two and a half years.
    It appears all but certain that Hezbollah-ally Aoun will become president under an unlikely proposal tabled by Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri, whose Saudi-backed coalition opposed Hezbollah for years.
    Jumblatt said there were some in his Progressive Socialist Party and in the umbrella Democratic Gathering bloc who do not support Aoun's candidacy, but the majority does.
    The Lebanese presidency has been vacant since Michel Suleiman's term ended in May 2014, pending a deal on who should succeed him.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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