March 14 at advanced stage in election planning
In an interview with the Voice of Lebanon radio station, Coordinator of the March 14 General Secretariat Fares Soueid said on Wednesday that the March 14 alliance reached advanced levels in its preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, “some issues could have been handled differently,” he said.
Soueid said that the March 14’s work had been on two levels: The first was reaching an agreement over pending issues between the March 14 parties, and the second was with regards to alliances in the Metn, Kesrouan and Jbeil districts.
The general coordinator also said that “ongoing talks are to allow March 14 running in the elections with the best possible conditions and on the basis of its unity.”
He explained that Nematallah Frem’s candidacy in the Kesrouan district was to reach an agreement between the majority and opposition in the district. However, “his withdrawal yesterday was a clear indication that there will be an electoral battle in Kesrouan, which is emphasized by National Bloc leader Carlos Eddé’s nomination.”
Soueid said that the majority was united in the Jbeil district, and “they have chosen me as their only candidate.” He said talks were ongoing with several parties, but not with President Michel Sleiman, “because he does not interfere with the elections.”