Kanaan Denies Crack in Ties with Bkirki

Change and Reform bloc lawmaker Ibrahim Kanaan stressed on Wednesday that ties with the seat of the Maronite church are still intact despite differences over political matters.

“The national partnership with Bkirki is ongoing and comprehensive,” Kanaan said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

He noted that “only a unanimous national decision” could resolve the presidential deadlock, remarking that dialogue with the rival political parties aims at activating the Lebanese initiative to end the crisis.

“Those who are obstructing the constitution are impeding the elections,” Kanaan added, in an apparent reply to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's recent statements.

Media reports said on Tuesday that the absence of Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun from the Easter mass that was led by al-Rahi on Sunday indicates that there's a rift between the two over the ongoing presidential vacuum.

The mass, which was held in Bkirki, was attended by former Presidents Michel Suleiman and Amin Gemayel, who is the head of the Kataeb party.

Aoun didn't also visit Bkirki to extend his greetings to al-Rahi like his old-time rival Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, who met with the Patriarch on Holy Friday.

On Monday, al-Rahi expressed regret that the parliament is paralyzed due to the actions of a certain political team.

Al-Rahi also denounced in his Easter message on Friday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, urging political powers to hold the polls and end their boycott of the electoral sessions.

“There are no constitutional justifications for the boycott of the elections,” he said, noting that the vacuum has created a “political death” in Lebanon and crippled the government and the parliament.

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

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

Only few MPs have been attending the sessions. The next electoral session is scheduled for April 22.

Kanaan, who is loyal to Aoun, lashed out at the sides that are blocking the adoption of a new electoral decree under the pretext of sovereignty.

“Our system is defective,” Kanaan said, demanding balance between all the Lebanese.

H.K.

M.T.