Franjieh Reportedly Expresses Dismay at Aoun”s Change of Stances
Marada movement leader Suleiman Franjieh has reportedly announced his displeasure at MP Michel Aoun”s latest stances from the government.
Sources close to Franjieh told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Franjieh stopped efforts to mediate between Aoun and PM-designate Saad Hariri after he noticed a big change in the FPM leader”s stances.
The Marada leader has said that Aoun agreed on Monday for his son-in-law Jebran Bassil to head the energy ministry and give the telecom portfolio to another FPM official. However, Aoun changed his mind after Bassil”s interference, according to Franjieh”s close circles.
They told al-Hayat that Franjieh and Hizbullah leader”s political assistant Hussein Khalil, who was present at Monday”s meeting, tried in vain to convince the MP.
Other sources told al-Hayat that Speaker Nabih Berri also told Bassil on Tuesday that Aoun should cooperate with mediators and "not to corner Hariri because there should be mutual concessions."