Report: New President Expected before New Year

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The upcoming weeks could be decisive in determining the election of a president given the regional and international interest to end the vacuum at the Baabda Palace, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday.

Christian sources from the March 14 camp told the daily that France, the Vatican, and Saudi Arabia are pressuring Lebanese powers to end the vacuum.

Local officials are likely to have agreed on a new presidential candidate, who is not affiliated with the March 8 or 14 camps, before the end of the year, they added.

They ruled out the possibility of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji being this candidate.

They explained: “No new candidate can be elected president without the approval of Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and at the moment Qahwaji does not enjoy high standing with the lawmaker.”

They did not give further details.

The sources predicted that the outcome of Iranian-French talks over the presidential elections will begin to emerge, comparing them to the efforts that were exerted ahead of the formation of Premier Tammam Salam's cabinet.

“Iran is has been embarrassed and the role of the government is no longer enough to protect the Sunni-Shiite status qou,” they added.

“It has become convinced that a Christian pacemaker is needed and it is therefore pressuring Hizullah to elect a president,” they explained.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended.

Disputes between the March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate has led to the vacuum.

M.T.

Comments 5
Default-user-icon citythug (Guest) 23 November 2014, 09:30

Sounds like one of mowaten's reports.

Thumb -phoenix1 23 November 2014, 15:18

They explained: “No new candidate can be elected president without the approval of Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun and at the moment Qahwaji does not enjoy high standing with the lawmaker.” Who the heck is Michel Aoun, probably the worst army deserter to weight on the decision to have a new president?! He hates anyone who holds a post he feels is his, be it army general president, M14 leadership, even the Batrak's post. This man if I can call him such is the worst impediment to the very survival of Lebanon, anything he is ordered by the Syrians and Hezbollah, he will translate on the ground. The hell with him, let's have our new president and let that person be from the new generation, someone who will distance us from the civil war era. Enough of this bacteria known as Michel Aoun.

Missing peace 23 November 2014, 21:03

sure he is.. he only comes here to attack others and then he comes and say they are haters , he is just projecting his sicnkness on others as he cannot assume it alone....

Thumb -phoenix1 24 November 2014, 01:46

FT, I am no hater, but whereas it comes to Aoun, yes, sure, I hate the old man just as I hate the devil. Let's thank God for choice.

Missing coolmec 23 November 2014, 15:51

@FT
These are no haters. This is the sad reality.Aoun is nothing but a lunatic and a traitor to the country. Unfit to be president so live with it