Al-Rahi wants new president to confront forces 'acting as if state has no dignity'

W460

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday demanded the election of a president who would "not only demarcate the state's border with the countries surrounding Lebanon, but also with Lebanese forces acting as if there are no inviolability, borders nor dignity for the state, legitimacy and the army."

"When we say that we don't want a provocative president, we don't at all mean that we want a president who would be challenged by everyone," al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon.

"The president's ability to confront provocations and challenges stems in the first place from his ethics, immunity to temptations, resilience in the face of intimidation, respect for the constitution and turning to the people at the critical junctures," the patriarch added.

"His ability is his expertise in the public and national affairs," he went on to say.

He added that the new president should not be elected based on "a book of terms for this or that camp," but rather based on "his vision for Lebanon's fate."

"That's why we ask all the parties concerned with this presidential juncture to launch a wave of contacts and consultations with the hope that they agree on a candidate who enjoys these characteristics," al-Rahi urged.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 7
Thumb i.report 21 August 2022, 16:23

Chaque dimanche, son Éminence brasse de l’air comme un ventilateur… les principaux intéressés ne l’écoutent absolument pas… le pays est à la dérive, le chat (capitaine) n’est pas là les souris (‏عفريت ) dansent .

Missing rami 22 August 2022, 15:51

#je suis patraque

Missing rabiosa 21 August 2022, 17:33

Batrak, if you once would dancing around with coded words and call a spade a spade. Maybe when you have free time and in your private quarters, put on a tape and listen to your predecessor Batrak Sfeir. He did not mince words.

Thumb chrisrushlau 21 August 2022, 19:41

Dude, good one! Hilarious! Asked about the theological basis for Lebanon's constitutional Article 24 which gives half of the seats in the national legislature to "Christians", al Rahi made a strange gesture with his hand.

Thumb commirade.vlad 21 August 2022, 23:20

Note to al-Rahi Lebanon is Syria and vice versa.

Thumb i.report 22 August 2022, 02:17

It doesn't apply to Syria comrade, Ukraine is the craddle of Russia, this is where it started 1000+ years ago without interruption. Lebanon and Syria have their own separate history even though they were united under different names several times millenials and centuries ago. even under the Ottoman rule, we had Beirut vilayet (which encompassed basically the Phoenician territories from the Syrian coast of Latakia to center of Palestine.) Syria was a different province with a different leadership.

Thumb commirade.vlad 22 August 2022, 03:38

My good friend Bashar and his father before him don't see it your way and because Bashar is my friend I believe him and support him.