Harb: Gemayel, Geagea Have Nomination Right, Candidacy without March 14 Consensus Harms Victory Chances
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
MP Boutros Harb stated on Monday that no political figure should run for office without the consensus of the March 14 coalition, explaining that this would hinder the alliance's chances of victory in the presidential race.
"Any Lebanese Maronite who thinks that they are competent can run for office," Harb said after meeting with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab.
Kataeb Party chief Amin "Gemayel is one of (the March 14) alliance's main leaders and he, as well as Geagea, both have the right to nominate themselves," he added.
But the Minister of Telecommunications stressed that no candidacy should be submitted without March 14's agreement.
"Or else, we will lose in the presidential race," he noted.
Harb, however, assured that the coalition's parties are "fully cooperating to go through the elections successfully."
He elaborated: "I met with Gemayel last week and we will also hold talks next week. We are waiting for him to meet with March 14 leaders and with all Lebanese politicians to study the circumstances leading to the polls."
Harb declared that "postponement is the fate" of Wednesday's parliamentary session, during which lawmakers are supposed to elect a new president.
"The possibility of reaching vacuum in the presidency is worrisome and it is a negative mark in the political life in Lebanon. The state cannot be built unless there is a head of state or else it would be subjected to dangers and this would threaten the harmony between its institutions."
"We will strive to avoid vacuum," he assured.
The Batroun MP explained that the solution to avoiding vacuum would be in all parties abiding by constitutional guidelines, heading to the parliament to provide quorum, and electing a president with a simple majority.
"This is a healthy democratic practice," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, in case of vacuum presidential powers would become in the hands of the council of ministers, Harb said.
"But this does not mean that there would be no crisis in the country...the cabinet does not fill this vacuum and it will act quickly to assure the election of a president," he told reporters.
"The absence of a president harms sectarian balance in the country and Christians would feel that vacuum in the presidency marginalizes their participation in the nation-building process," Harb expressed.
During the first round of the presidential polls, 52 MPs from the March 8 alliance cast blank ballots, Geagea received the votes of only 48 MPs while 16 lawmakers voted for Aley lawmaker Henri Helou and one for Gemayel.
The March 8 MPs later pulled out of the session, causing a lack of quorum. The same lawmakers, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections.
The same scenario is expected to take place next Wednesday during the third round.
President Michel Suleiman's tenure ends on May 25.
S.D.B.
Y.R.
05 May 2014, 20:55
00
@ the_roar, not supporting Geagea but the difference between him and helou is that geagea announced his candidacy and then let M14 support him which is what a strong president should do. I dont support Geagea for president but that is the way things should be done. Jumblat announced helou's candidacy for him meaning he is the one that decides the faith of the only christian powerful post. The game is clear, M14 doesnt have anyone worth it and M8 dont want any elections. If M8 wanted elections, they would have threatened this turncoat of Jumblat to vote in their favor for Aoun for example. Which they didnt do. Because be it Aoun or anyone in M8, they are happy with the way things are right now. They have had control of the country without beeing in politics, now if politically lebanon is dead, they have total control and are top decision makers.
05 May 2014, 20:55
00
What some M8 fans seem to forget is that Hezbollah dont need MPS because they are already doing wtv they want. Only a strong president can argue with them. And it wont be case because they dont want any and there isnt going to be any.
05 May 2014, 20:58
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"The absence of a president harms sectarian balance in the country and Christians would feel that vacuum in the presidency marginalizes their participation in the nation-building process," Harb expressed.
tell that to aoun! he has done this 2 elections in a row!
05 May 2014, 20:59
33
As the diplomatic war of words heated up, Moscow has also criticized as "absurd" plans to hold the presidential election given the violence raging across the country.
But it is ok to hold them in syria lol
06 May 2014, 07:19
01
mowaten and crusher never posted simultaneously LOL. Any more evidence mowaten?
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/103199
05 May 2014, 20:59
00
As for Qahwaji, he has to resign 6 month prior to holding the post of president. But i dont think he will be president. This time it is very possible that Sleiman Frangieh would take it. What we are failing to understand is that we need to hold parliamentary elections before presidential ones, we need to remove all those worthless mps be it from M14 or M8. We need a fair law and get the elections started fast. New mps could represent a new reality. It is not possible that Jumblat has the power to be the one who decides whos gonna be president or not, which decision might pass or not. He is the one toying with the parliament right now. And since he is a turncoat, neither side will ever trust him. We need to abolish this and create a senate for the druze so they dont feel misrepresented. We need to decentralize the decisions from the state as well. We either work or die. Thats it
05 May 2014, 21:02
00
The people should elect a president not the MP's; the constitution should be changed,moreover any Lebanese should be able to run for president.As long as this is not the case,uncertainty and chaos remain.
05 May 2014, 21:04
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Hakim is no criminal, he is a saint! He is Mandela, he is Gandhi, he is King! Head down low and always humble. Look at the billboards!
05 May 2014, 21:55
22
M8 (under the boot of the Glorious Iranian militia) only understands Consensus/Democracy, Ayatollah style.
05 May 2014, 23:11
13
Again with the gif... Mr snore, you should be happy that I am spreading the Running x-general's message in a visual format.
If you like, I will create for you a gif of a buffoon in a Lions costume Roaring :-)
05 May 2014, 23:19
14
ibinherathreik... these mindless M8 cheerleaders don't even know what they are posting half of the time and can't remember what they posted the other half.
"TOO LATE< TOO BAD...Game Over".... Roro, the Nostradamus of Naharnet has Spoken
06 May 2014, 00:18
11
Yalla harb for president. Get it over with already. Don't u see we fight over every election, wether PM or parliament or whatever meaningless post, only to witness nothing change.
06 May 2014, 02:43
01
I agreed with u until u kicked in with the aouni propaganda. But even when we were fighting over salam's cabinet, faj2a they agreed on everything, and moved on like nothing happened. Now it's the president, next it's the parliamentary elections... Meanwhile nothing changes.
06 May 2014, 05:22
03
Ft you are once more playing the victim card. M8 don't like Geagea and that is fine also. So why don't they simply name an alternative and stop obstructing. If the M14 candidate is not suitable for M8 they can name Baroud or Harb or one of their own nothing is stopping them. That is the only point being made. Obstructing and not participating only creates doubt as to their motives.
06 May 2014, 06:10
11
The motive, most likely, is to buy time. B7is faj2a they'll agree right before deadline. Honestly I wouldn't mind aoun, I don't think this presidency will make or break this country. But it seems pretty apparent that ppl are tired of the old guard. I think saad coming back, and some kind of Sunni/Shia reconciliation is more important.
Also I'd like to add that vacuum in the presidency will only hurt Christians. It will b a huge mistake to show the government can function without the Christian post.
As far as baroud, I like him, but I feel a weak president will turn the presidency into nothing more than a top diplomat.
