Tripoli Moves towards Formation of Coalition List: Hariri, Safadi, Miqati
Tripoli faces a decisive week in light of talk about a coalition election list that is near completion which would include Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, former Cabinet Minister Najib Miqati and Economy and Trade Minister Mohammed Safadi.
The daily An Nahar on Friday quoted sources in Tripoli as saying that a semi-agreement has been reached between Hariri, Miqati and Safadi on a coalition ticket where Mustaqbal would get four seats while Miqati and Safadi would each get two.
As Safir newspaper, for its part, said a meeting would be held Friday evening between Hariri and Miqati where the final touches to the coalition list are expected to be put.
The daily Asharq al-Awsat, meanwhile, said the coalition ticket is likely to be announced within the next few days after having done with negotiations.
An Nahar said news of the coalition list has sparked controversy regarding the two other key Tripli candidates – former PM Omar Karami and MPs Misbah al-Ahdab and Samir Franjieh as well as former lawmaker Jean Obeid and Jamaa Islamiya.
Obeid told LBC on Thursday that he is determined to proceed with his nomination for the Maronite seat in Tripoli, denying any knowledge of the Tripoli coalition election ticket.
As Safir said Karami adhered to silence.
Pan-Arab Al Hayat, however, said Karami appeared to be far from joining the Tripoli coalition list.