Russian Sources: Circumstances not Apt for Presidential Elections

The circumstances required to hold an over two-year delayed presidential elections are not appropriate yet and they are linked to a political solution that could be brought on to Syria and the region, al-Joumhouria daily said on Thursday.

Al-Mustaqbal movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri was informed during his latest visit to Moscow and after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the “conditions required to hold the Lebanese presidential elections are not ready yet,” Russian sources following up closely on the Lebanese file told the daily.

“Hariri was advised by the Russian leadership, which considers him as an old friend, not to drain his political energy in an attempt to achieve quorum at the parliament in the near future,” the sources said on condition of anonymity.

They advised him to take care of other issues until the moment is right for conducting the presidential elections, which she emphasized are “linked to a political solution in Syria and the region.”

Last week, Hariri concluded a trip to Russia where he held talks with Putin before traveling to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

Lebanon has been without a head of state since May 2014 when the term of President Michel Suleiman ended.

The presidential race is mainly confined to Change and Reform bloc chief MP Michel Aoun and Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh. There is also centrist candidate MP Henri Helou.

However, not a single candidate is able to garner the needed votes to be elected president.

Sessions aimed at electing a head of state are being adjourned over lack of the required two-thirds quorum of the 128-member parliament.

D.A.

G.K.