Report: Int'l Powers Leaning towards Central Bank Governor's Election as Centrist President
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
International powers have kicked off their efforts to ensure the election of a president for Lebanon, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Sunday.
It said that they are leaning towards the election of centrist figure, namely Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh.
Their efforts are taking place with the cooperation of some local authorities, added the daily without elaborating.
International powers have also highlighted Salameh's experience in the economic field as an important factor in his potential election.
Lebanon staged on Wednesday the first round of the presidential elections, but neither of the candidates, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou, garnered the needed 86 votes of lawmakers to win the polls.
The second round of the elections will be held on Wednesday with a candidate needing 65 votes in order to emerge victorious.
President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends on May 25 amid fears that the lack of consensus over a successor will lead to vacuum in the country's top post.
M.T.
27 April 2014, 10:01
48
Nothing against Salameh... But Lebanon needs a strong President, if not things will remained as they are.
27 April 2014, 11:11
76
The Lebanese have a "spiteful, hateful nature"? Well gee thanks Jerry!
By the way: how many Lebanese have ever you met in you life?
27 April 2014, 18:45
31
Lebanese are by nature a loving and sociable race (except the Shiites) and it would hurt their feelings to have to tell these foreigners that it would be better, for instance better in the oppression of Lebanese Shiites, for Lebanese, except the Shiites, to elect whomever they, the non-Shiite Lebanese, want. So it works out well for everybody for the foreigners to decide whom they want as Lebanese president. It's a consensus operation with a heart of gold, except for the Shiites, who all come from hell and should return as soon as the KSA delivers the money for the weapons. Main idea: loving consensus.
27 April 2014, 12:24
67
Protectionism is a tricky thing, FT. It is a double-edged sword. Once you raise trade barriers to protect a local industry, that industry loses an incentive to become more competitive, thus putting the consumer at a disadvantage. Plus other countries retaliate with the same measures, impeding export. Trade barriers that work are ones that are raised against unfair competition, such as price dumping.
We want a vibrant local industry in Lebanon, but it must be competitive. That is the key to grow an economy. An alternative to trade barriers is government incentives aimed at encouraging local industries to increase their competitiveness (tax breaks, controlled grants etc). But for this to work we need a system....
27 April 2014, 13:21
58
Nicely put @jabal. Unfortunately such a system, which is possible as there are a few examples around the world which have succeeded, should be free of corruption. As we know corruption and greed seem to be Lebanese traits. In Lebanon society never seems to benefit and only the corrupt rich become richer and whatever trickles down to the common man is barely enough to sustain them but enough to keep them tame.
@FT I agree with you on a need to have a self sufficient economy, however, for that to happen you need political and social stability first. We are clearly so far from achieving these essential basics, irrelevant of who is to blame.
27 April 2014, 15:12
44
Loubnani, wait, wait, FT wants to liberate palestine first, wants to destroy lebanon over and over again before we can start rebuilding.
27 April 2014, 15:24
42
To be honest with you -samy I'm not sure FT wants to liberate Palestine as I honestly have never read him mention that.
That is part of the problem though. Let's say he does want to, our differences should not lead us to insult and fight each other. Our petty arguments here reflect the petty arguments our so called politicians make. The end result is nill to all.
To be honest with you we are so divided as a nation on all issues that liberate or not liberate Palestine we will always have a reason or another to destroy Lebanon again and again. You said it "pity the nation".
27 April 2014, 15:31
44
@full-disclosure the problem with Lebanon is not only sectarianism. It is also an incredible thirst and greed for power and the lack of understanding of what democracy means. It is the subservient culture of bowing down to the will of corrupt sectarian leaders.
Lebanese people of all sects live everywhere in the world and more often than not mix in well with the local populations. This seems to happen everywhere but in Lebanon. Why is it that we accept others or are able to live with them in other countries but not ours?
The country has great potential in its people to be great but I fear we have an even greater potential to self destruct. We don't even need foreign meddling for that.
27 April 2014, 22:32
00
FT, true. And this would mean that if we invest into making our industries competitive, we won't need to protect them from external competition and in the process start a trade war we just can't win.
27 April 2014, 13:06
57
It is beyond shameful when a country is not mature enough to make it's own decisions. We are like bickering children who need mummy and daddy to come and tell us what we should do.
The country is split in its vision of the future. Both will remain stubborn and that will only lead to stalemate. How can the country be united and move forward when both are not willing to budge, I have no idea.
Does anyone else feel incredibly angry and betrayed by this all? Honestly, I am pained by this situation in my dear Lebanon and fear for a horrible future.
27 April 2014, 15:05
34
I do Loubnani. Rest assured that there is no hope for Lebanon, never was, never will.... Pity the nation...
27 April 2014, 15:12
43
Yes Samy, I agree. No hope as it seems we were designed to fail and we are proving it every day. Not even a miracle is enough to get us out of this bloody awful situation we're in. One can only hope.
27 April 2014, 14:52
36
I agree jerry. Add to that, they are racist, they look down at everybody, they are fake and superficial.
Pity the nation that is full of crooks, idiots and wherein each one deems self an Einstein.
27 April 2014, 15:00
24
Ft wezther we want a libéralised économy and free trade is an extensive and legitimate debate. Just do not put it on the back of Hariri because you have legitimate reasons not to like him or even hate him. This debate should not be reduced to m8 versus m14 debate or a pro Syrian versus pro Saudi.
Now if we agree to out our partisans differences aside and discuss truly from an economic perspective, my argument to you is that all controlled economy and trade protection policies around the world have failed miserably. Latin American countries buck rioted their economies under these policies. Whereas chili in the 70's with the Chicago boys policies became the richest and most successful ecomy in South America.
28 April 2014, 15:43
00
الظاهر أن "السعي الدولي" يجهل أن لبنان واقع تحت احتلال. التعويل على الاقتصاد في سياق احتلالي كبناء قصر من رمل (بحري).
