Ally of Syria’s Assad tipped to be Lebanon’s next president

In this Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015 photo, Christian lawmaker Sleiman Frangieh prepares to enter the parliament building fors the National Dialogue meeting between Lebanese political leaders, in downtown Beirut. Frangieh, one of Syria’s strongest allies in Lebanon and a close personal friend of Syria’s embattled leader, may become Lebanon’s next president under an emerging deal to end an 18-month presidential vacuum and halt the country’s downward spiral. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) In this Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015 photo, Christian lawmaker Sleiman Frangieh prepares to enter the parliament building fors the National Dialogue meeting between Lebanese political leaders, in downtown Beirut. Frangieh, one of Syria’s strongest allies in Lebanon and a close personal friend of Syria’s embattled leader, may become Lebanon’s next president under an emerging deal to end an 18-month presidential vacuum and halt the country’s downward spiral. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

By Associated Press December 3, 2015 5 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – Under an emerging deal to resolve Lebanon’s 18-month-long crisis, one of the strongest allies and a close personal friend of Syrian President Bashar Assad may become the next Lebanese president.

Sleiman Frangieh, a 50-year old politician and lawmaker who survived a notorious civil war massacre at the age of 13, was not even running for the post of president and up until recently seemed an unlikely candidate.

It’s a choice few anticipated, but then, Lebanon is no stranger to back-door political deals.

The possible breakthrough comes after months of bickering among the Lebanese politicians that has led to near complete paralysis of the state at a time when Lebanon faces multiple challenges – from spillovers of the conflict next door, soaring tensions among the Lebanese divided over sectarian loyalties, to an economy and resources stretched to the limit by the influx of Syrian refugees.

Frangieh became a candidate two week ago when his name was suddenly tossed in the ring by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri after the two men met in Paris.