Charbel Applauds Suleiman's Performance, Says No Decision Yet to Run for Presidency

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel hailed on Wednesday the performance of President Michel Suleiman, without confirming or denying if he will run for presidency after the tenure of Suleiman ends in 2014.

“We have a president called Michel Suleiman and he will remain in his post until the last moment, I really admire his performance,” Charbel said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

He said that he is against extending the tenure of the current president for one year, voicing his support to a “constitutional modification that allows the election of the president for two consecutive terms, where the period of one tenure would extend to four or five years.”

Charbel added that the next elected-presidents would benefit from this constitutional alteration.

The minister stressed that he is working to become successful and not to “become popular.”

Asked about the discussions over the new electoral law, Charbel describes them as “out of the context.”

The joint parliamentary committees are currently discussing a draft law to be adopted during the 2013 polls as the cabinet's draft law calls for dividing Lebanon into 13 medium-sized districts based on proportionality, while a plan suggested by Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc allows every sect to elect its own MPs under a proportional representation system with Lebanon as a single district.

The March 14-led opposition's proposal made by MPs George Adwan, Sami Gemayel and Butros Harb supports the formation of 50 small-sized districts in a winner-takes-all system.

Charbel stressed tat he didn't set for the parliament a time-frame to agree on the electoral law, noting that he gave himself until December to finish the draft law to be able to accomplish all the necessary technical, logistic, security and administrative preparations accompanying the elections.

Concerning the security campaign in the Bekaa to arrest security violators, Charbel said that the decision was taken during the last meeting for the Higher Defense Council.

Increasing crime, thefts and abductions in Bekaa have intensified in the past year, although the state institutions have launched a number of campaigns to combat the trend.

Charbel acknowledged that the army undertakes frequently tasks appointed to the Internal Security Forces, however, he said that “the army is better equipped and the ISF frequently asks for its aid.”

On the case of the Lebanese abducted in Syria, the minister pointed out that he and General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim are following up on the case.

“We obtained positive signs but the political and security situation in Lebanon and Syria is varying every moment,” Charbel stated.

A second Lebanese abductee Awad Ibrahim was released in September and crossed to Turkey a month after another Lebanese hostage, Hussein Ali Omar, was released by his kidnappers the same way.

The two men were among 11 Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped, by a group that claims affiliations with the rebel Free Syrian Army in the northern province of Aleppo, on May 22 while on their way home from Iran.

The group leader has identified himself as Abu Ibrahim.