Report: Berri Promotes 'Package Deal', Says Electing President Doesn't Solve Difficulties

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated that the election of a president alone does not solve Lebanon's pending problems, and highlighted the necessity for political factions to shoulder responsibility and agree on controversial issues, al-Joumhouria daily said on Thursday.

“Everyone must shoulder their responsibility in order (for Lebanon) to get out of the crisis,” visitors to Berri quoted him as saying.

“Their agreement on a solution starting with the election of a president facilitates the task of the president, because electing a president alone does not solve the lingering political problems,” added the Speaker.

Berri was referring to the objections raised by head of the Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi against a package deal that he launched earlier this year.

Berri's initiative deal aimed at ending the impasse. He called for shortening the term of parliament and that the elections be held based on the 1960 law should political forces fail to agree on a new electoral one.

He also called for staging the presidential elections after the parliamentary ones and forming a national unity government.