Hariri Meets Rahi, Talks Highlight Need to End Presidential Vacuum

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri met with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday in Bkirki where talks touched on the necessity to end the presidential vacuum.

“The Patriarch did not name anyone for the post of the presidency. He is democratic and urges all parties not to obstruct the election process and to attend the parliament session to elect a head of state,” said Hariri after the meeting.

“There are two candidates running for the presidential race and we have to attend the parliament session to elect one of them,” he added.

“The lawmakers as well as the candidates for the presidential race (Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh and MP Michel Aoun) must go to the parliament to elect a president,” he stressed.

The Mustaqbal chief accused Hizbullah of obstructing the elections.

Later during the day, Hariri held a meeting with Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan at Dar al-Fatwa.

Talks focused on the municipal elections and the latest developments in the region.

Several March 8 lawmakers including Aoun and Franjieh have been boycotting the sessions which have totaled to 38 failed ones.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.

Conflicts among the rival March 8 and March 14 alliances have thwarted attempts aiming at electing a successor.

D.A.

M.T.