Jihad Azour.. Who is the Lebanese opposition’s presidential candidate?

The majority of opposition parties in Lebanon nominated him for the presidency under the name of Jihad Azour, against Suleiman Franji, the head of the “Marada Movement”, the candidate of Hezbollah and the Amal movement.

On Sunday, Representative Michael Mowat announced his withdrawal from the battle for the presidency of the Republic in favor of Azur from his residence in Pabda, “as a result of contacts between the opposition parties and some independents in the last 24 hours. And representatives of the transformation and the Freedom Patriotic Movement reached an agreement with the director of the Department of the Middle East and Central Asia. .” At the International Monetary Fund, attention turned to the latter’s position on his candidacy.

Azour, who comes from the world of business and finance, holds a Ph.D in International Financial Sciences and an advanced degree in International Economics and Financial Sciences from the Institute of Political Studies in Paris. He has research interests in emerging economies and their related fields. Integration in the Global Economy at Harvard University.

He was previously finance minister in the government of Fouad Siniora from 2005 to 2008, during which time he coordinated, according to the International Monetary Fund page, “the implementation of important efforts to reform Lebanon, including the modernization of tax and customs systems.” He also previously participated in the production of Paris 1 Conferences. and 2.

Before and after his stint as Finance Minister, Asur (57 years) held several positions in the private sector, including his work at “Finance”, “McKinsey and Boos. & Company, where he was vice president and senior management advisor, and joined the fund in March 2017 as a managing partner at Inventis Partners for Consulting and Investments.

Since the end of October, the Lebanese parliament has held 11 sessions to this end as a result of the split between Hezbollah supporters and opponents, but failed to end the presidential vacancy following the end of former President Michel Aoun’s term. and independents, in the name of a Maronite candidate, as usual.

“He has the personal, professional and political qualities and a serious chance to reach the presidency and the ability to help Lebanon out of the crisis we are in,” Azor noted, according to a joint statement by opposition forces. Apart from his close ties to Maronite patriotism, he is known for his ability to weave a wide range of relationships at the Arab and international levels.

The son-in-law of the late member of parliament Jean Obeid, whose name was also put forward for the presidency of the republic, “in addition to the Free Patriotic Movement, agrees with significant Christian camps, especially the “Lebanese Forces” and “Kateb” parties. “According to the statement read by representative Mark Dow, on behalf of 32 representatives, in the opposition, ” Azour is a provocative middle name for any party in the country, he is not just an opposition candidate, he is not one. A special candidate for any constituency, he has the potential to garner 65 votes in the next presidential election session.”

“Daou announced the opposition’s readiness to vote for a candidate who prioritizes national constants and saving Lebanon and ending the vacuum, because Lebanon must be saved, and we and others have that responsibility.”

After a press conference by opposition forces, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Perry said, “I will call a parliamentary session, but I will review what MPs Michael Mowat and Mark Dow have said and set the date based on my agenda.” “There is no consensus in the country and unfortunately, when there is consensus, things will become clearer,” the two representatives pointed out.

Azour’s candidacy is being challenged by the Shiite duo, which will raise the level of political ramifications among Lebanese parties, raising questions about whether an official at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to reach the palace. He would be a new obstacle on the way to the palace, and we assumed he would not object to the opposing forces acknowledging his name.