Report: Hariri Vows to al-Rahi to Hold Presidential Elections after Parliament's Extension
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri highlighted to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi the need to extend parliament's term given the failure to elect a new president, explaining that Lebanon will be faced with vacuum in these two state institutions if the extension does not take place, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.
Hariri pledged to al-Rahi that he will “not back down from staging the presidential elections after the extension.”
The MP made his vow during a meeting the two official held in Rome earlier this week.
Al-Rahi had meanwhile expressed his concern that the extension will lead politicians to adopt an indifferent approach towards the presidential polls.
Hariri attempted to assuage the patriarch's fears by pledging to hold the presidential elections after the extension, revealing that the March 14 alliance will name a compromise presidential candidate as a means to end the presidential deadlock.
The reveal of a new candidate will demonstrate the camp's loyalty to Hariri's vow to al-Rahi and ease Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's fears that his withdrawal from the presidential race will complicate affairs on the ground and grant the March 8 camp the upper hand.
Hariri had adamantly rejected staging the parliamentary elections in light of the vacuum in the presidency, saying that the Mustaqbal Movement will boycott the polls should they go ahead.
Media reports had recently claimed that the MP and al-Rahi had discussed during their meeting alternative presidential candidates, which the head of the Mustaqbal Movement later denied.
Geagea and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou have announced their candidacy for the elections, while the March 8 camp has not revealed its nominee.
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun had repeatedly said that he is willing to run in the elections if there is consensus over him.
Geagea had accused the March 8 alliance of adopting this tactic to blackmail the other political powers into electing Aoun as president.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
18 October 2014, 08:32
410
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun had repeatedly said that he is willing to run in the elections if there is consensus over him.
Naharnet, seriously?? A day after Aoun said he won't withdraw his candidacy and will never give up, you say he is "willing to run"?? Who wrote this article?? Was this paragraph copy-pasted from an article 3 months ago?
18 October 2014, 12:03
94
As far as I'm concerned, Presidential elections cannot happen for the simple reason because the chamber of deputies have lost all sense of legitimacy after their decision of extending their mandate. That is why all decisions coming from them will be considered void, and as if nothing actually happened in the first place.
Besides, I think it is about time Presidents come directly from the people instead of remaining in the hands of clergies and sectarian political elites that still dominate the political landscape of Lebanon ever since 1943.
18 October 2014, 12:36
34
This is precisely what the caporal wants : destroy the country to fulfill the objectives of the divine party. Destruction of all institutions. After the parliament is nullified, they will quit the government..no one to pay the salaries...no one to give directives to the army...and total void will be reached to pave the way to a new constitution where the christians will have only one third.
The Caporal is a traitor. Those who still support him are responsible in the destruction of the christians.
18 October 2014, 13:16
44
Bande d'incapables kellkon, byD7ako 3al lebnenyin Tul l wa2et
18 October 2014, 13:59
102
So now we have Mr. Hariri telling His Eminence about the election of the president. Would that have been the same if that concerned the post of Speaker of the Parliament? Just floating a thought.
18 October 2014, 16:47
02
Nice try, buy M14 Christians are voting against the extension, ya shiite hezballah around the clock propagandist and fake aounist.
18 October 2014, 17:20
15
Once again you proof us right, a big fart thrown in rhe dark, the only effects or the snels, aroma that is distinctive of your home. I bet you knw that hariri and geaga fighting same battle with same concerns abiut institutions, unlike nasrallh and aoun. A dectator is in control if a lunatic.
18 October 2014, 18:15
15
Once again Flamer gets humiliated by M14 drones on Aoun articles and can't respond to them
18 October 2014, 18:33
20
To the blind people of this forum...Michel Aoun represents the MAJORITY of the Christians ! So when you talk about him, keep in your head that Aoun is not a person - he is over a million of Lebanese!
Why the majority of the Christian cant elect its President while the others can ? Geagea can make noise.. he has only 3 MPs.
We have nothing in common, partition is the answer
18 October 2014, 19:31
04
Flamer, all we wanted was a simple answer. You kept saying the whole time Aoun wasn't a candidate. Then he says he won't withdraw his candidacy and will never give up. Spare me the mistranslated hogwash and answer the question: were you wrong this whole time, or was Aoun deceiving you the whole time? Closed-ended question, answer it.
18 October 2014, 20:31
01
Ebola from who? From the only Wakeel (shar3l) mu3tamad ... Ebola from HizzEbola.
19 October 2014, 03:05
10
Make Sleiman Frangieh the alternative candidate. He would definitely be acceptable to Hezzbollah. That would be very interesting to see Aoun's reaction to that. Would he accept Frangieh knowing that it would mean he will likely never hold the Presidential chair he covets so much? I dont think so. I think he would then turn on Hezz. Sleiman is crazy but who isnt among these candidates. But Sleiman Frangieh is defintiely for a strong Lebanon. I would like to see this just to see the position it puts Aoun in. M14 and Harriri should propose Sleiman Beik as much as they dont like him, he would be far bettr than Aoun and assure Aoun never seizes power and it will keep a Christian as President.
