In an interview with French daily Libération, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said that he is ready to withdraw his presidential candidacy if Hezbollah agrees on another candidate. He reiterated his call for early legislative elections and then the election of a successor to President Emile Lahoud.

“I had reached an understanding with Hezbollah over the procedures for implementing international resolutions, especially those relevant to its military arsenal and the situation in the south of Lebanon,” Aoun told the French newspaper on November 20. “Any option that is not supported by Hezbollah will result in a military conflict” he added.

Talking about the selection procedures for candidates from the Bkiriki list by Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Saad Hariri, Aoun denounced the Maronite president being chosen by Sunni and Shia. Concerning the Bkirki list, he asked : “Why do we ask the Patriarch to put out a list of candidates while we know that I represent Maronites politically?”

He also declared that he will not participate in the election of a president who is worse than a vacuum. “They are capable of forming a majority without me,” said Aoun. “Let them bear consequences.”