Why The Opposition Likes Michel Eddeh

“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.