On August 19, the Ad-Diyyar daily newspaper carried the following report by Abbas Saleh: “Pieces of information coming from Bayt al-Wasat allude to a hidden arms’ wrestling between [former] PMs Sa’d al-Hariri and Fouad Siniora with the features of this conflict slowly emerging and with some of its repercussions and outcomes becoming clear to the public in the context of the major struggle over the monopolization of the blue movement’s authority and inheriting the Sunni representation in power.

“This conflict is mounting and gradually expanding in light of the Saudi leadership’s open rejection to proceed with supporting Al-Hariri as the sole representative of its political directions in Lebanon… Sources that are informed of this conflict are wondering which is best in the eyes of Saudi Arabia: Al-Hariri or Siniora?

“From this door, and in the context of this new conflict, Siniora has found a ray of hope tickling his constant dreams and ambitions… Today, he is trying to re-enter the political ring and to achieve several goals all at once. In light of this specific atmosphere and as one outcome of the struggle [between Al-Hariri and Siniora], there is current talk about a Future parliamentary majority led by Siniora that is hindering the election of a president because it wishes to rebel against Al-Hariri’s desire to facilitate the so-called initiative of the Hezbollah secretary general, an initiative that consists of electing Gen. Michel Aoun for president in return of positively dealing with the proposition that Al-Hariri heads the upcoming cabinet.

“According to a political source, this initiative was well-received by the Speaker [Nabih Birri], which indicates that the man has implicitly approved this initiative as well as all its equations and outcomes. In other terms, Birri has approved Al-Hariri for prime minister as one outcome resulting from Aoun becoming president. On top of that, the head of the Democratic Gathering, MP Walid Jumblatt, has previously given a piece of advice to the Future movement and to Al-Hariri in person by telling him: Go ahead and elect any president even Aoun because the important part is to save the system.

“The above clearly indicates that the issue of the presidential elections is now in the court of the Future movement, which is solely responsible for the clear hindering of the elections… Concerning the opinion of the Saudi leadership, which represents the Future’s political reference, on the point regarding Aoun’s election, political sources indicated that Saudi Arabia remained silent regarding the Aoun-Geagea agreement and then officially invited Aoun and his people to dinner via the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon. Through this invitation, Saudi Arabia wanted to send a message to the Lebanese people telling them that there is no veto against any of the presidential candidates… Thus, the source revealed that the issue now pertains to the situation within the Future movement…”