Kataeb Leader Reveals Sami Gemayel Met Hariri, Considers Presidential Elections 'National Responsibility'
Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel revealed on Monday that MP Sami Gemayel held talks with al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri in the French capital Paris, urging officials to reach a breakthrough over the presidential elections dispute.
“Hariri is keen to safeguard the state institutions and the role played by the Christians in the country,” Gemayel told reporters from Bkirki after holding talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.
Later, Hariri's adviser Nader Hariri arrived in Bkirki for talks with al-Rahi.
“The presidential elections are a national responsibility,” Gemayel said.
He remarked that the meeting with the Patriarch focused on his recent talks with the various political arch-foes concerning the presidential bid.
He described the meetings as important and should lead to a breakthrough.
The Christian leader warned that “any presidential vacuum will have dangerous repercussions on the future of the country and its institutions.”
“Al-Rahi and I agreed on rejecting any vacuum” at the helm of the country's highest Christian post, Gemayel continued.
He urged the rival parties to exert efforts to facilitate electing a new president, noting that “the country witnessed stability after the formation of the new government.”
“But it will all collapse if we didn't act responsibly,” the official added.
Gemayel has met with several leaders in the country in the past week as part of his initiative to resolve the presidential deadlock.
He has held talks so far with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, Marada movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.
The ongoing disagreement between the March 8 and 14 camps is raising fears that they will fail to elect a president before May 25, resulting in vacuum in the country's top post.
“We are seeking to reach common grounds between the rival parties,” Gemayel said.
He told reporters that “the Kataeb party aims at resolving the crisis without having any hidden intentions.”
Gemayel also considered the parliamentary lack of quorum “unconstitutional.”
One presidential elections session was held on April 23, but neither Geagea nor Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou garnered the necessary 86 votes to emerge victorious.
Two other sessions were supposed to be held, but they failed over lack of quorum after a March 8 camp boycott over the ongoing disagreement over a candidate.
The fourth session is scheduled for May 15.
H.K.
M.T.
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