Berri Postpones Presidential Election Session to April, Pessimistic over Near End of Crisis

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed anew a parliamentary session set to elect a new head of state after he expressed pessimism over the near end of the crisis.

The 20th session was adjourned to April 2 over lack of quorum.

Earlier the speaker expressed despair in comments published in local newspapers over the ongoing differences between the political arch-foes, saying: “Hopes (to elect a president) became a delusion.”

“It's a shame that the number of sessions reached 20,” the speaker pointed out.

President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor. Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the polls.

An electoral session, the 19th, was held in February, but it was postponed to March 11 over a lack of quorum at parliament.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance blocs have been boycotting the elections, demanding that political powers agree on a compromise presidential candidate.

Berri denied in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper that his recent meeting with al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri tackled the reappointment of the former premier as the head of the cabinet.

“How can we discuss the premiership before the election of a president?” the head of AMAL movement wondered.

The two officials met in February during a short visit by Hariri to Lebanon where he met with several political figures.

“We should carry out the presidential election first before tackling any other matter... those who are saying such statements aim at toppling the dialogue (with Hizbullah) and the general situation in the country,” Berri stressed.

The dialogue between al-Mustaqbal and Hizbullah kicked off in December under the auspices of Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Berri considered in comments published in As Safir newspaper that “the thing which distinguishes the current dialogue from other talks is its seriousness.”

“Ain el-Tineh's talks are based on short statements but actions are taken into effect immediately,” he noted.

“The positive atmosphere made the return of Hariri to the premiership possible.”

Asked about his recent meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, the speaker said that he briefed him on the dialogue between the Sunni and Shiite parties as the FPM chief in return informed him about the party's talks with the Lebanese Forces.

“I stressed to Aoun that the Christian parties should have engaged in dialogue earlier to tackle the presidential election and to swiftly end the stalemate,” Berri said.

During his weekly meeting with lawmakers on Wednesday, the speaker revealed that he will invite the parliament's bureau after March 17 to convene to prepare for a session that he will call for soon under the slogan “the urgent draft legislation.”

Parliament convenes twice a year in two ordinary sessions -- the first starts mid-march until the end of May and the second from the middle of October through the end of December.

Article 33 of the Constitution confirms that extraordinary sessions can be held at the request of "an absolute majority" of the parliament.

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