BEIRUT: A Lebanese MP has said opposition parties have reached consensus on a presidential candidate, in an apparent breakthrough that could end a seven-month power vacuum.

Fadi Karam, of Lebanese Forces, told Arab News that 鈥渁ll signs were positive鈥� that the Free Patriotic Movement, a one-time ally of Hezbollah, had agreed to endorse the nomination of Jihad Azour, currently the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund.

鈥淲e reached an agreement with the FPM and we are looking for the right time to announce it officially,鈥� he said after opposition parties met on Friday. 鈥淓ach party might announce its stance, but what鈥檚 certain is that the FPM endorses Azour and will announce its stance individually.鈥�

He said announcements could be made before Monday.

Karam added that Azour鈥檚 backers were 鈥渃ommunicating with other parties, including the Progressive Socialist Party, the Moderation Bloc, and independents,鈥� to secure more votes to secure the necessary 65 votes for Azour鈥檚 election. 鈥淪igns are positive,鈥� he added.

Lebanon has been in constitutional crisis since Michel Aoun left the presidential palace seven months ago. There have been 11 failed election sessions by MPs since then, prompting the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, to say that he would refuse another unless 鈥渁t least two serious presidential candidates are presented鈥�. He warned that 鈥渄isruption and intimidation would be of no use or benefit.鈥�

Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and their allies support the candidacy of former minister and head of the Marada Movement, Suleiman Frangieh. The FPM was Hezbollah鈥檚 ally before turning against it after it endorsed Frangieh鈥檚 candidacy.

Azour was first put forward by Christian parties and their efforts are now mainly focused on getting the FPM to approve his nomination.

Some other opposition parties meanwhile have supported Michel Mouawad.

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi is among the opposition forces pressing speaker Berri to schedule an electoral session.

鈥淏erri should have called a meeting two months before the end of former president Michel Aoun鈥檚 term, but some people violate the constitution,鈥� Al-Rahi said after returning from a trip to the Vatican.

He said the Vatican and France had asked him to 鈥渨ork internally with other components, so Christian parties would agree on a presidential candidate鈥� and that he would speak to anyone, 鈥渋ncluding Berri and Hezbollah.鈥�

Barbara Leaf, US assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, said that the US administration was considering sanctions on Lebanese officials for their continued obstruction in the election of a new president.

She added in a statement: 鈥淭he administration is very disappointed in the current situation in Lebanon, and is cooperating with its local and European partners to push the Lebanese parliament to carry out its duties.

鈥淭he Lebanese people鈥檚 representatives failed at doing their job, and the parliament speaker failed at holding parliamentary sessions since last January to allow deputies to nominate presidential candidates and vote for them to elect a president.鈥�

In a visit to Lebanon in March, Leaf had warned against 鈥渢he collapse of Lebanon as a state鈥� and said that time had 鈥渟tarted to run out.鈥� She was surprised that there wasn鈥檛 鈥渁ny sense of urgency on the part of many political leaders and deputies.鈥�

Reformist MP Waddah Sadek said he was confident that two 鈥渟erious candidates鈥� would be officially nominated by the end of this week.

鈥淭he first serious candidate is Frangieh. Before next Monday, the second serious candidate will be announced, after receiving the approval of many parliamentary blocs and deputies,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e will be looking forward to a speedy parliamentary session next week. If anything happens and the quorum is lost, we will consider this a new obstruction and a blow to what鈥檚 left of the country鈥檚 democracy, if any.鈥�

Independent MP Bilal Houshaymi affirmed his support for 鈥渢he Christian parties鈥� agreement to nominate Azour, whose professional position at the World Bank allows him to lead Lebanon鈥檚 recovery out of the abyss.鈥�

Houshaymi said Frangieh 鈥渋sn鈥檛 accepted by most Christian parties at a time when he calls for consensus.鈥�

He said Hezbollah wanted to carry on with its statelet within the Lebanese state, even if at the expense of other components.

Mohammed Raad, head of Hezbollah鈥檚 parliamentary bloc, said: 鈥淭he presidential election isn鈥檛 about the people, but rather about who wishes the resistance well and who stabs the resistance in the back.鈥�

Raad said Hezbollah "supports Frangieh because we are confident that he will not stab the resistance in the back and he is capable of being a bridge of communication between us and the others, including our political adversaries. He is also capable of communicating with our Arab surroundings, as well as with countries concerned with Lebanese affairs.鈥�

Those opposing Frangieh鈥檚 nomination 鈥渁re prolonging the presidential vacuum period and they want to dominate the country at the service of its enemies,鈥� he added.