The Latest Breaking News from Suleiman Franjieh

Lebanese Christian and opposition coalition nominate IMF's Azour for president

Lebanon's disparate opposition, independent and main Christian parties said on Sunday they had nominated IMF official Jihad Azour for the presidency in a challenge to Hezbollah-backed candidate Suleiman Franjieh.

Reuters · Jun 4, 2023

Lebanon: Divorce between Aoun, Hezbollah Is Final

A Lebanese official following the relations between former President Michel Aoun with Hezbollah said the “marriage” between them, which was held at a Maronite church in Beirut’s southern suburbs in 2006, is over. All that is left is for them to announce the official divorce, marking an end to an…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 14, 2023

Lebanese Pound Hits Record Low of 100,000 to the Dollar

The Lebanese pound sank to a historic low against the dollar on the parallel market Tuesday, the latest somber milestone in an economic meltdown that started in 2019. Officially pegged at 15,000 to the dollar, the Lebanese pound was trading at 100,000 against the greenback. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Mar 14, 2023

Army Commander Tops List of Lebanese Presidential Candidates

Lebanese Army commander Joseph Aoun’s chances of becoming the next president grew on Tuesday after receiving the backing of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), headed by former MP Walid Jumblatt. A PSP delegation, headed by MP Taymour Jumblatt, Walid’s son, visited Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki to discuss the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 1, 2023

Lebanon’s FPM Torn Between Bassil’s Ambitions, Hezbollah’s Pressure

A number of lawmakers from Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) have acknowledged that the party is in “crisis” over the election of a new president of the republic. FPM MPs have submitted blank votes in eight electoral sessions. Tensions reached new heights during the ninth session amid disputes between the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 11, 2022

Geagea: Dialogue with Hezbollah, its Allies Is a Waste of Time

Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea usually prefers to remain optimistic, in contrast to the dreariness in Lebanon that is grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis. The situation has also worsened with the country plunging in presidential vacuum with rival political forces failing to elect a successor to Michel…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Nov 30, 2022

Majority of Presidential Terms in Lebanon End in Conflicts, Wars or Vacuum

Lebanon only twice witnessed a smooth transition of power from one president to a successor in its 79 years of independence. Out of 12 presidents who had come to power since 1943, only twice was the transition a smooth process, underlining the extent of the complexities that have plagued the…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 28, 2022

Debate over 'Qualifications’ of Lebanese President Heats Up Between Geagea, Bassil

With the race over the presidency heating up in Lebanon, debate is raging over the qualifications of the next president. Amid the political divides in the country, each rival camp has come up with their own set of conditions that they believe qualifies a candidate to run for the country’s…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Aug 17, 2022

Factbox-Who is running in Lebanon's election?

Lebanon holds a parliamentary election on May 15, with candidates vying for 128 seats that are divided among 11 religious groups according to a sectarian power-sharing system.

Reuters · May 13, 2022