Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea predicted on Saturday that new alliances would emerge in Lebanon after the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman President. Geagea did not explain what he meant by the new alliances , but some analysts predicted that the Reform and Change alliance of General Michel Aoun will split into two blocs. One will be headed by MP Michel Murr and MP Elias Skaff which will join the majority alliance and the other by Michel Aoun which will remain with Hezbollah-led opposition.Murr and Skaff MPs are expected to vote Monday for the constitutional amendment while aounÂ’s MPs will refrain from voting . Geagea, in an interview with Voice of Lebanon radio, said "We are heading to electing a president next week and (former president Emile) Lahoud wouldn't be the last Christian president."
Geagea criticized MP Saad Hariri, head of al-Moustaqbal Movement, for announcing the nomination of Gen. Suleiman prior to reaching collective agreement within the March 14 forces, stressing that amending the constitution was the problem and not the army commander in person. He said the decision to nominate Gen. Suleiman is "purely Lebanese."
Geagea accused Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun without mentioning him by name, noting that "some Christian leaders have a unilateral viewpoint that cannot be subject to discussion."
Lebanese Forces MPs, Geagea stressed, will take part in a parliamentary session set for next week to vote Gen. Suleiman into the presidential office following adoption of a constitutional amendment that permits his election. "I stress on the fact that there are no intra-Christian grudges, however there are differences in view points."
"Had the Christians been rallied around one stand they would have been the strongest party" in Lebanon, Geagea said. This was viewed as criticism of General Michel Aoun, who is accused of dividing the Christian community .