Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh's call for the blocs that support him to cast blank votes in Monday's presidential election session might create a 40-member opposition bloc consisted of the MPs who resort to this choice, a media report said on Sunday.
“The idea of casting blank votes instead of voting for Franjieh was reached after consultations between Franjieh and (Speaker Nabih) Berri,” the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted multiple political sources as saying.
“The consultations also involved a number of independent MPs who support Franjieh, such as ex-PM Najib Miqati, ex-deputy PM Michel Murr and Minister Butros Harb,” the newspaper added.
The decision was reached after “the failure of Hizbullah's attempts to mend ties between Berri, Franjieh and General (Michel) Aoun.”