[unitedlb]

General Fayez Karam is a hero and a gentleman. However, when it comes to the Zgharta elections, we need to think about what is happening in Sleiman Franjieh's brains. At the end of the day, although the opposition is working together, it's no secret that each group in the opposition is fighting for the largest possible share they can get. Why should Sleiman Franjiyye be any Different. If SF runs alone in Zgharta without any allies, he can win all 3 seats. Why should he give a seat to us? Why would anyone want to go into parliament with 2 seats instead of 3. This is politics and that's what we as the FPM should be considering. If SF is to leave a seat for General Karam, then we must compensate him with a guaranteed seat somewhere else. A seat in Koura is not guaranteed for Marada (if we are to take 1 and if the SSNP are to take another, because Farid Mekari might yekhro2 and beat Marada) and neither is a seat in Batroun (Boutros will be tough to beat). We have four options:

1. Convince Sleiman Franjiyye to run in Batroun and let Fayez Karam run in Zgharta in place of Sleiman. This will definitely strengthen the Batroun list as Sleiman achieved the highest number of votes in that region among all candidates in 2005, even higher than Boutros Harb and Gebran Bassil. Such a move will almost guarantee both seats in Batroun. However, I don't think Sleiman operates this way. He is too close to Zgharta and wants to be the representative of that qada rather than Batroun.

2. Run Fayez Karam in Zgharta and allow Sleiman to nominate an MP in any area where he feels he can win one with the C&R block, if he accepts to do this.

3. Run Fayez Karam in Zgharta and compensate Sleiman Franjiyye by giving him an important ministry in the next cabinet.

4. Leave Fayez Karam out and nominate him as a minister in the next government.