Hariri backs Michel Aoun for Lebanon’s vacant presidency

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri intends to endorse Michel Aoun for the country’s vacant presidency, political sources said, though a leading member of Hariri’s party was quoted as saying the decision was not yet final.
The proposal would result in Aoun, a political ally of the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah, becoming head of state and Hariri becoming prime minister for the second time, the senior political sources said.
Political conflict has left the Lebanese presidency empty for 2 1/2 years. The post is reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing arrangements.
It was not immediately clear if Aoun’s candidacy would enjoy enough support among other Lebanese politicians to secure the necessary two-thirds quorum for the vote in the 128-seat parliament. The next scheduled parliamentary session to elect a president is set for Oct. 31. Opponents of Aoun’s candidacy include the influential Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is head of the Shiite Amal Movement and a close ally of Hezbollah. Hezbollah itself has yet to comment.

Source: Arab News