Mustaqbal Says Hariri Trying to 'Speed Up Election of President', Blames Hizbullah for Void

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Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc announced Tuesday that al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri has launched “consultations with all political parties” in a bid to “speed up the election of a president,” while reiterating that Hizbullah is to blame for the protracted presidential void crisis.

“Ex-PM Saad Hariri briefed the bloc on his vision in the current period for tackling the national issues that the country is facing,” said the bloc in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The meeting, which was presided over by Hariri, comes only a few hours after talks between the ex-PM and his declared presidential candidate, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, and three days after Hariri returned to the country from a foreign trip that lasted several weeks.

“Ex-PM Hariri informed the bloc that he has started consultations with all political parties with the aim of speeding up the election of a president, demonstrating the developments in this regard and the strenuous efforts that he is exerting,” the bloc added.

“The bloc will follow up on these developments with ex-PM Saad Hariri in open meetings,” Mustaqbal noted.

Turning to Wednesday's presidential vote session, the bloc urged all MPs to “take part in tomorrow's session to practice their constitutional duty of electing a president.”

“Hizbullah is still creating the presidential vacuum and it is putting the country in very dangerous situations and circumstances at all the national, security, economic, financial and social levels,” Mustaqbal charged.

As for the grievances that are being voiced by the Free Patriotic Movement regarding Christian-Muslim “partnership,” the bloc emphasized that “the election of a president is the right gateway for resolving most of the problems that are gripping Lebanon in this critical period.”

“The continued boycott of presidential elections sessions by Hizbullah and its allies has harmed Lebanon, the reputation of its institutions and the credibility of its leaders,” Mustaqbal warned, urging political leaders to “reconsider these negative policies and stances and embark on electing a president so that all Lebanese can create a new hope that enables to overcome the accumulating problems.”

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014 and Hizbullah, FPM founder MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc and some of their allies have been boycotting the parliament's electoral sessions, stripping them of the needed quorum.

Hariri, who is close to Saudi Arabia, launched an initiative in late 2015 to nominate Franjieh for the presidency but his proposal was met with reservations from the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

Hariri's move prompted Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to endorse the nomination of Aoun, his long-time Christian rival, after months of political rapprochement talks between their two parties.

The supporters of Aoun's presidential bid argue that he is more eligible than Franjieh to become president due to the size of his parliamentary bloc and his bigger influence in the Christian community.

Comments 5
Thumb Southern...... 27 September 2016, 16:56

as days go on, Hariri appears to be more a Lebanese than a Saudi, unlike Rifi, the Al Nusra supporter whose cousins want the country to be attached to the so-called IS.

btw, some good news is emerging about the liberation of Aleppo from the terrorists.

Missing humble 27 September 2016, 18:38

What about your modern advanced culture???

Thumb Southern...... 27 September 2016, 18:45

at least i do have culture, which you lack for... keep praying and slapping yourself.

Thumb shab 27 September 2016, 18:26

Who will convince Berri to vote for Aoun ?

Missing humble 27 September 2016, 18:29

@terrorist
Thank you for your honesty, for your patriotism and for your love for Lebanon.
Thank you for being what you are!