SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 28 March 2024, Thursday |

Assad to Nasrallah: Bassil still an “amateur”… We prefer Franjieh

It was not what Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah wanted, regarding opening the presidential battle early, but he was surprised by a message from the Syrian regime that reached the suburb asking Hezbollah to open the file early.

In private information to “Sawt Beirut International” website, Bashar al-Assad sent a message with a party leader and a former minister loyal to the regime, calling on Nasrallah to go ahead with Suleiman Franjieh, as a serious candidate for the opposition axis, and to secure the necessary votes for his arrival to Baabda.

Nasrallah was surprised by Assad’s message, as he did not favor Syria’s intervening directly in the Lebanese presidential elections, and he preferred to conduct the presidential battle on a low fire, and to collect votes from allies in a diplomatic way by pleasing everyone, especially the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Representative Gebran Bassil, because without the votes of the Strong Lebanon bloc, the party will notbe able to deliver Frangieh to Baabda, and any imperfect instigation between the allies would bring down the presidential battle and weaken Frangieh’s chances.

According to the information received, Representative Farid Heikal Al-Khazen moved towards Bassil to portray the battle as purely Lebanese, because the relationship between Bassil and Franjieh is sensitive and delicate, and must be approached carefully.

So far, Nasrallah has left Bassil free, and is waiting for the results of Al- Khazen-Bassil’s meeting before interfering directly, and Iran has a say in the presidential battle. According to the sources, Assad realizes that Franjieh is closer to Iran than BaSsil, and thus he played Frangieh’s card, to ensure that Hezbollah and Iran’s allies in Lebanon, proceed with it.

According to some leaks, Assad told the Lebanese delegate that Bassil still an “amateur” and is not guaranteed with some files, but Franjieh is clear that he has been in the line of the resistance for decades, and a true ally of Syria, and will not cause any headache.

    Source:
  • Sawt Beirut International