Frangieh on Sunday welcomed a call one day earlier for dialogue between him and Michel Aoun

Lebanese Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has urged French President Francois Hollande to exert efforts to end Lebanon's presidential vacuum, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.

He voiced his willingness to see the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder MP Michel Aoun as president to ensure that the impasse is resolved.

Hollande had reportedly relayed al-Rahi's stance to Mustaqbal Movement chief MP Saad Hariri.

The lawmaker replied that he “does not mind” the proposal, saying that he is keen on ending the vacuum.

He did however reiterate his support for his presidential candidate, Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.

Franjieh OK with Hariri Backing Aoun

Frangieh on Sunday appeared to welcome a call by Future Movement chief Saad Hariri one day earlier for dialogue between him and Michel Aoun with the hope that one of them would withdraw from the presidential race in favor of the other.

"If Hariri decided he wanted to back Aoun, I wouldn't have a problem with that," Frangieh told reporters from the northern town of Zgharta during the municipal elections in the area.

Al-Rahi had visited France in early May and Hariri paid a similar trip days later.

Lebanon had been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.