Direction for Naming Franjieh: The File Exceeds Basil

There are talks about a direction within the March 8 team to openly nominate former MP Sleiman Franjieh for the presidency, regardless of the position of the head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," MP Gibran Basil. Leadership sources in March 8 told "Al-Liwaa" that the Lebanese file, in both its political and economic aspects, is much bigger than Gibran Basil. The man may be able, to some extent, to gain personal consideration from the Secretary-General of "Hezbollah," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, regarding some non-strategic internal issues, but in reality, priorities and strategies take precedence over any other file. For the party, electing Franjieh as president has become a non-negotiable strategic priority, and this file has moved from the narrow Lebanese internal corridors to regional, international, and Arab understandings regarding the entire Lebanese file. Therefore, the matter of considering Basil’s feelings on the election of the president is subject to the ethical standards with which Hezbollah deals with its allies only, while awaiting the regional and international moment that will bring Franjieh to the Baabda Palace.