Michel Aoun, a Lebanese presidential candidate supported by Hezbollah. Photo: Wikipedia.

A leading Lebanese Christian politician endorsed the presidential candidacy of his pro-Hezbollah rival, Lebanon’s daily An-Nahar reported on Monday.

Samir Geagea, the head of the pro-Western Lebanese Forces (LF) party, said during a press conference that his support for the nomination of General Michel Aoun – also a Christian – was motivated by a desire to end Lebanon’s two-year presidential void and restore its domestic stability.

During the conference, Geagea also said that Aoun agreed with him on preserving Lebanon’s independence from foreign influence. However, Aoun’s political alliance with Hezbollah — which described him as its “sole presidential nominee” —  has been a key factor in the terror group’s growing domestic power, furthering Tehran’s control over Beirut.

In Lebanon, the president – who must always be a Maronite Christian – is elected by two-thirds of parliament, and not by a popular vote.