Geagea: Presidential vote session may be worse than past ones

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said he does not rule out that the 12th presidential election session might be “worse” than the previous sessions through blocking the first round’s quorum or boycotting the session altogether.

“The circumstances are appropriate, there is no need for boycott and we’re before two candidates with clear characteristics who enjoy the needed conditions and the support of some blocs. That’s why it is necessary to head to open-ended electoral sessions until the aspired result is reached,” Geagea said in an interview.

He added that “ex-minister Jihad Azour will not necessarily meet the same fate of MP Michel Mouawad, seeing as Azour is starting from a broader base.”

“That’s why we will cling to his nomination and this is our natural right, after the opposition intersected on his name,” Geagea said.

“Escalation is unjustified. We heard very escalatory remarks over the past two days and this is an indication that the (Axis of) Defiance camp does not want things to spiral out of its control. It does not believe in the constitution, elections, public order or the other similar principles. Once this camp sensed that something outside its expectations and control happened, it directly started its escalation,” the LF leader added.

He also emphasized that Azour’s nomination is not aimed at prolonging paralysis, noting that it has “pulled the presidential juncture out of stagnation, which pushed Speaker (Nabih) Berri to call for an electoral session.”

“Democracy requires accepting the other,” Geagea underscored.