Political ties between Free Patriotic Movement Chief MP Michel Aoun and Marada Movement head MP Suleiman Frangieh can be labeled as "rapprochement" more than "alliance" since it requires reconsideration and long discussions.

12 out of 13 signatures were secured in order to open an extraordinary session for the parliament, and only the signature of Marada- affiliated Minister of Culture Raymond Arayji is still missing.

Marada Chief voiced last week his reservation on the poll requested by Aoun to determine the most popular presidential candidates among Christians. It is also marked, Frangieh's stance backing the extension of Lebanese army commander Jean Qahwaji's term.

It is worth to note that Frangieh along with one minister and two other Zgharta deputies form components of Change and Reform bloc; however the attendance of MPs Estefan Douweihy and Salim Karam of the bloc's meeting is almost null. But on the other hand, Douweihy never misses Wednesday's meetings at Ain al-Tineh.

Hence, the alliance between Aoun and Frangieh is limited to headlines but the devil lies in the details. Each one of them plays the political game as he pleases. The confidence between both men is at its lowest; despite being both linked to Hezbollah Party but their political ambition in addition to their dispute in approaching many national topics tear them apart. And Gebran Bassil is the main factor behind the sharp division, to the extent that MP Suleiman Frangieh wonders if he will ever resume his alliance with FPM if Bassil reaches the party's leadership.

Adapted from an article originally written in Arabic by Dany Haddad.