Berri Kicks Off Next Week Discussions on Landmark Presidential Elections

Speaker Nabih Berri is set to tackle the upcoming presidential elections at the end of next week, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.

According to An Nahar newspaper, Berri is expected to be handed over “soon” a report from the presidential elections committee that he had formed.

The committee, which was tasked with inquiring the opinion of the different parties on the polls, had drafted a report that includes several decisive points.

The newspaper said that the report of the committee will confirm that lawmakers from the March 8 and 14 alliances, independent and centrists will attend the session that Berri will call for to elect a new president.

The report also includes rejection by MPs to amend the constitution and an agreement to stage the elections within the constitutional deadline.

However, the committee didn't receive any signs on the name of the candidates.

The committee is comprised of Development and Liberation bloc lawmakers, including Ali Osseiran, Michel Moussa and Yassine Jaber.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May but the Constitution states that the parliament should start meeting March 25 to elect a new head of state.

H. K.