Conditions Suitable for Presidential Vote, Says Suleiman

The internal and regional conditions are “suitable” for holding the presidential elections, president Michel Suleiman assured on Wednesday.

"The rotation of power is a sign of stability,” Suleiman told the Egyptian state news agency MENA, after holding talks with Egypt's Coptic pope Tawadros II at the Baabda Palace.

"And this time all conditions are suitable for electing a president,” he added.

"Those who want a president can go and vote, and those who want to become president but do not win this time, can run for presidency another time,” Suleiman said.

Suleiman's six-year tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state began on March 25.

As the president completely rejects the extension of his mandate, Speaker Nabih Berri called for a general parliamentary session next week to prepare the way towards electing a new head of state.

Separately, Suleiman considered that Egypt's new constitution “restored balance in the region that was shaken following the Arab Spring, whose path was veered towards terrorism.”

"But the compass was directed again after the country's new revolution,” he explained.

He hoped this new constitution would be a start for adopting more suitable laws in other Arab countries where regimes were overthrown.

As for Lebanon, Suleiman said the country enjoys an “ancient democratic system that is based on the rotation of power.”

"This system will be preserved and will be implemented in a better way.”