Al-Mustaqbal Says Presidential Vacuum Rejected, Urges March 8 to Announce Own Candidate

Al-Mustaqbal bloc reiterated on Tuesday its rejection of vacuum in the presidency, calling on the March 8 camp to announce who their candidate is.

"Electing a new president is a national and constitutional priority and it must be achieved during the next parliamentary session,” the bloc said in a released statement after the MPs' weekly meeting at the Center House.

The statement added that the election must happen before the end of President Michel Suleiman's term, explaining that the country “needs a new head of state in compliance with the constitution and the National Pact.”

"Vacuum in the presidency is rejected, particularly amid the country and the region's critical conditions,” stated the lawmakers.

They stressed their support for Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea for office, calling on the March 8 camp to announce its candidate.

"A president symbolizes national unity, and is keen on the constitution's implementation and on preserving the country's independence, unity and the safety of its territories,” they expressed.

The fourth parliamentary session to elect a president is set for Thursday, after MPs have failed three times so far to choose a new head of state.

In the first round of voting on April 23, Geagea gathered the support of 48 MPs while 52 others cast blank votes, 16 endorsed Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou, and one voted for Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel.

However, quorum was not met in the second and third rounds as March 8 lawmakers, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the sessions.

The al-Mustaqbal MPs also discussed the work of the parliamentary committee tasked with studying the proposed new wage scale draft.

“We call on the parliament to adopt the draft and we stress on the rights of public employees in a fair and just manner, taking into consideration the needed balance between the revenues, the expenses and their effect on financial stability,” the statement said.

Also, the bloc condemned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' inaction towards comments made by Iranian Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, in which the Tehran official considered that South Lebanon marks the borders of his country.

"These comments breach Lebanon's sovereignty and the unity of its territories,” the bloc considered.

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Y.R.