Naharnet

Jumblat: I Have no Problem to Elect Aoun for Presidency

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat stated on Tuesday that he has no trouble to elect head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun as president.

“I have no problem to elect Aoun as president for the Republic as it will change nothing of Lebanon’s difficulties,” said Jumblat in an interview to the As Safir daily.

“I have suggested before that electing Aoun will change nothing in the depth of Lebanon's problems because the jurisdictions of the president no matter what they are have become limited now. It is enough that he is committed to sign a decree within a specified period of time while a minister can put it in the drawer,” added Jumblat.

Pointing to the difficulties facing the election of a head of state, the PSP leader pointed out: “The matter is delicate because the Sunni community in general does not accept to have Aoun as president just like the Shiite community refuses to have Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.”

He urged the election of a “popular” president who “expresses the will of his community and at the same time is accepted by the other factions.”

Lebanon has been without a president since May last year when the term of Michel Suleiman ended with MPs unable to find a successor.

Sharp differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances left Baabda Palace vacant over their inability to agree on a consensual candidate.

Aoun is the March 8's candidate and Geagea's candidacy is endorsed by the March 14 coalition.

D.A.

G.K.

Source: Naharnet


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