Phalange Party Urges Timely Presidential Vote, Security Plan for Tense Areas

The Phalange Party on Monday called for “capitalizing on” the formation of the new cabinet to hold the upcoming presidential election on time, urging a “comprehensive security plan” for the Lebanese regions that are witnessing security tensions.

“The country enters tomorrow the timeframe stipulated by the constitution to elect a new president and the party stresses the importance of capitalizing on the promising governmental achievement to approach this juncture in a spirit of national responsibility in order to prevent any presidential vacuum,” the party said in a statement issued after the weekly meeting of its political bureau.

It called on Speaker Nabih Berri to set a date for an election session as soon as possible.

The party also urged the government to draft a new law for the parliamentary elections, warning that procrastination in this issue would pose “dangerous risks to democracy and to the voters' right to practice their national role.”

Turning to the recent unrest that rocked several regions across Lebanon, the Phalange Party called for devising a “comprehensive” security plan for the tense areas and the regions that are hosting a large number of Syrian refugees.

The party demanded “liberating Arsal and the neighboring areas and Tripoli and its surroundings from the grip of arms and counter-arms,” urging measures to “prevent the spread of chaos into areas that have remained calm until the moment.”

The conferees called on security forces to “strike with an iron fist anyone seeking to bring the civil strife into Beirut,” describing the deadly clashes that erupted near the capital's Sports City as “a dangerous indication that requires effective efforts.”

The party also condemned verbal and armed attacks against the army and deplored the recent attempt to kidnap Maronite Bishop Semaan Atallah, the head of the Baalbek-Deir al-Ahmar dioceses.

Turning to the situation on Lebanon's borders, the Phalange Party slammed “Israel's attacks and its serious violation of Resolution 1701” as well as “the Syrian attacks against Lebanese sovereignty and citizens in northern and eastern border areas.”

It called for deploying the army along the border with Syria and taking all measures necessary to “repel the attacks.”

Commenting on President Michel Suleiman's call for national dialogue, the party demanded “a clear agenda” for the all-party talks, saying the issue of weapons must be the top priority.