Gemayel Urges Election of President, Warns against Forming Constituent Assembly

Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel called on Thursday for giving a new push to Lebanese politics to resolve the presidential deadlock and confront all local and foreign challenges.

Following a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki Gemayel said: “It is unfortunate that some parties are not realizing the importance” of electing a new head of state.

He expressed fears over the establishment of a Constituent Assembly over the obstruction of some parties of the parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended in May last year.

Baabda Palace was left vacant over the differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances that caused lack of quorum in more than a dozen round of electoral sessions.

“It is our duty to head to parliament and give back (state) institutions their glow,” said Gemayel.

A proposal to establish a Constituent Assembly was first made in 2012 by Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah for the purpose of building a strong state to end sectarian divisions and solve the country’s crises.

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D.A.