With the by-election for the open Orthodox seat in Metn threatening to divide the opposition camp, leaders have intensified efforts to establish a “consensus” candidate.
As of Thursday, only two candidates had been nominated for the seat left vacant by MP Albert Mokheiber’s death on April 13: businessman Gabriel Murr and lawyer Ghassan Mokheiber, the late MP’s nephew. And, with each claiming to be the opposition candidate, their nominations have created rifts among leading members of the Qornet Shehwan Gathering.
An-Nahar general manager Gebran Tueini is rallying around Mokheiber, while Metn MP Nassib Lahoud and former President Amin Gemayel have voiced support for Murr.
Moreover, Murr’s candidacy has also prompted exiled former army commander Michel Aoun to call on his supporters “who wish to participate in the elections to back Gabriel Murr.”
As a result of this split in the opposition camp, Bkirki, represented by Bishop Youssef Beshara, has joined forces with Orthodox Bishop George Khodr to devise a “settlement” whereby all candidates would be withdrawn in favor of a more moderate one, according to political sources close to the by-election, due to take place on June 2.
Among the names suggested for such a “neutral” candidate have been former minister Elie Salem and his brother, Philip Salem, a cancer specialist.
Lahoud, who along with Gemayel had announced his backing of nominee Gabriel Murr, expressed “willingness” to accept the Bkirki initiative, according to Lahoud’s adviser, Antoine Haddad. “But that doesn’t mean we’ve let go of Gabriel Murr,” he added.
Haddad said that if all candidates withdrew, Lahoud and Gemayel would “not mind” endorsing a Bkirki candidate. But if a consensus is reached on a “neutral” candidate, political observers believe that the opposition camp would be relinquishing one of its long-held seats.
Meanwhile, National Liberal Party leader Dory Chamoun rejected endorsing what he called a “wishy-washy” candidate.
“The cause of our political problems is politicians who do not take clear positions,” he said, adding that his party was working to convince one of the two candidates to withdraw.
“(The National Liberal Party) will not support one against the other, when they are both opposition candidates,” he said.
But Metn MP and former Interior Minister Michel Murr, who wields significant clout in Metn, has stuck by his announcement that he would not declare his support for any candidate before the 40 days of mourning have passed since Mokheiber’s death.
However, sources close to Michel Murr confirmed that he was “seriously considering” nominating his daughter, Myrna, who heads the Union of Metn Municipalities.
Michel Murr can easily secure at least 15,000 out of some 150,000 votes by relying on the traditionally pro-regime Tashnak Party and naturalized citizens.
But some observers believe Michel Murr’s possible intention to nominate his daughter is “merely a tactical move” meant to divert pressure from Ghassan Mokheiber, who has been branded a “loyalist.”

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