“Michel Eddeh or chaos” appears to be the opposition’s new game. What is it about Mr. Eddeh that the opposition likes?
The chubby 80-year old seems like an odd choice for the opposition. After all, he owns L’orient-Le-Jour , Lebanon’s only French daily that has advocated Lebanese independence and sovereignty since the Syrians were around.
But Mr. Eddeh has qualities (Arabic) that are highly attractive to the opposition. Fellow blogger and friend Tony explains:
The opposition could be interested in Edde especially if they have already cut a deal with him that 1- he would be supportive of Hezbollah’s weapons, and 2- he would resign after two years after the next parliamentary elections. Such a scenario has been floating in the Syrian-allied camp for a while. It possibly would have Aoun’s acquiescence as it would keep him safe in Hezbollah’s pocket nursing his fantasy that in two-years he could try once again to become president once, as per his ridiculous fantasy, he and his allies seize a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Michel Eddeh did end up going to Rabieh proposing his candidacy to Mr. Aoun, promising a short 19 month mandate where his sole objective would be to draft a new election law. That should be highly attractive to the intransigent Aoun.
March 14 are likely to resist. They told the Pan-Arab Alsharq al Awsat newspaper that they would not accept an “Eddeh or Chaos” formula. As their website points out, he seems to have made a blessing trip to Damascus a few days ago. That should go a long way towards discrediting him.
Related Beirut Spring posts:
• Don’t forget to check the articles I wrote this month on presidential candidates Demianos Kattar and Robert Ghanem.
Hello, my name is Mustapha and I have been blogging about Lebanese society and politics since February 2005. You can also find me on 
Kattar and Ghanem, well at least Kattar, seem to be the best technocratic compromise candidates. However, whatever happened to Kattar’s name on that list?
I sense something drastic will happen withing the next 10 days!
On the negative side: Another blogger mentioned the assassination of one of March 8 leaders (I think Berri, Al-Murr, Aoun are on the list) to ignite a civil war. That’s a possibility although Lebanese are sick of wars (the Syrians are not!)
On the positive side: Syria will be offered the Golan Heights but I am not sure it is enough for Syria. Syria wants the International Tribunal to disappear!
Let’s wait and see!
God protect Lebanon!
Frankly, I’m surprised Eddeh would visit Syria for their blessing.
I mean at the very least at his old age he should be true to himself and his conscience. It isn’t time to be cutting deals at the expense of the nation.
Honestly, I have no idea why March 14 is pushing for Robert Ghanem. And why on earth didn’t they prepare for this by making Boutros Harb seem more consensual in the last two years? I would have asked Harb to be very conciliatory in the last two years and wouldn’t have even presented him as a March 14 candidate. Also I would have presented Geagea as the only March 14 candidate. Then slowly move on to Lahoud, and then Harb would have been proposed as the most consensual. But thats just what my strategy would have been. March 14 played all their cards too early in the game.
I find it strange though that Harb has refused to be elected by a simple majority vote. Why would he limit himself to being a consensus candidate until today when the opposition has flatly vetoed him because he’s a March 14 candidate? The whole strategy seems awkward. As for Lahoud, the fact that he isn’t a MP and that he’s less conciliatory than Harb makes his candidacy a hard sell. It’s a very tight corner. What do you guys think?
GK
Do you really think that the Baath regime wants the Golan Heights back? or even a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict?
What do you think would happen to the Baath party after a peaceful settlement?
m
I think your points stands and your analysis of the situation is correct. March 14 has prooved on many occasions how weak they were and how shortseeing their strategies are. Some defenders of M14 say that it’s to prevent a civil war… That’s just plain dumbness, Hitler swallowed the Sudettes and went to war anyway.
Eddeh is a respectable man, a perfect “francophone” who loves Rousseau and Baudelaire. Electing him will bring a cultivated man to the presidency who reads poetry but will not solve any issue, he is just there to waste more time end take Lebanon into two more years of stagnation/instability where nothing will change.
The leaders of M14 must take action tomorrow by electing a president, and whatever shit hits the fan, bring it on, we are living in the sewers anyway.
Edde a perfect “francophone” who loves Rousseau…
I’ve heard enough, axe him. [m. you know we have different taste in authors ;) ]
Honestly, Baath wants the Golan Heights back but they prefer the elimination of the international tribunal and control of Lebanon!
So Michel Edde, is the choice of the opposition (Speaker Berri). I for one, wouldn;t mind him, as his background seems clean and educative. As a citizen, from the Christian community, would like to know what is the preferred candidate of the blue team. I wonder what is Saad Hariri’s preferred candidate. Taking note the crucial leak, by of all odds Michel el Murr, that the list of 6 got narrowed down to two. We got a ball rolling.
heryee heryee