Metn List to be Announced Monday after Ashkar”s Withdrawal
The March 14 coalition”s Metn list will be announced on Monday, Phalange Party”s Central Committee Coordinator Sami Gemayel announced after reports that the ticket was facing "technical" obstacles.
Gemayel told Voice of Lebanon radio that the ticket will be announced at 5:00 pm at Chalet Suisse in Fanar.
Sources following Metn issues had told As Safir daily that the announcement of the list was postponed because of continued bickering over names of candidates.
The sources said two main factors caused the delay, first the Metn list is connected to the Kesrouan and Beirut 1 lists. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea continues to insist on the candidacy of Armenian Catholic contender Richard Kouyoumjian for the Beirut 1 seat. This will create an Armenian reaction and votes will probably go to opposition members of the Metn, putting Phalange candidate Nadim Gemayel under threat.
The second factor that delayed the list”s announcement is controversy over a candidate that will replace Nassib Lahoud who had announced his withdrawal from the race. The Phalange wanted to name Emile Kanaan while Pierre Ashkar, who is backed by MP Michel Murr, claimed he had the right to regain his place in the list after Lahoud”s withdrawal.
But the announcement of the list on Monday would come after Ashkar withdrew from the race in favor of Kanaan.
In Kesrouan, As Safir said the March 14 list hasn”t been completed because Mansour al-Bon and Farid Haykal al-Khazen are refusing to include Carlos Edde in a list that also includes Phalange candidate Sejaan Azzi.
The newspaper said the Phalange suggested including Youssef Salameh or Joseph Abou Sharaf but al-Bon and al-Khazen are not enthusiastic.