Suleiman: I Have Nothing to Do with Term Extension Proposals
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Michel Suleiman denied on Tuesday that he has anything to do with suggested proposals to extend his presidential term, adding that he was looking forward to May 25 when his time in office ends.
"Sunday, May 25, is another day that I haven't witnessed anything like in 47 years,” Suleiman said on Twitter.
"I am happily looking forward to it,” he added.
Suleiman also stated that “he has nothing to do” with suggested proposals to extend his tern in office.
Sports and Youth Minister Abdul Muttaleb Hennawi, who is close to President Michel Suleiman, stressed on Monday the need to find a constitutional solution that would allow Suleiman to stay in office “until the election of a new president” should MPs fail to elect a head of state before May 25.
“Just like there is an exit that prevents vacuum at the helms of the legislative and executive authorities, a formula allowing an incumbent president to stay in office until the election of a new president must be devised,” Hennawi explained.
He noted that such a solution will not be aimed at serving Suleiman's own interest, stressing that it would be beneficial for “Lebanon's future.”
The minister added the cabinet should prepare a draft law in this regard and refer it to parliament where it would be put to a vote.
Kuwait's al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Saturday that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had discussed with Suleiman the possibility of extending his time in office awaiting the election of a new president, in order to avoid vacuum in the presidency.
But Bkiri on Tuesday denied these reports.
“The Patriarch merely proposed an idea to avert any vacuum” at the helm of the country's top Christian post, Bkirki spokesperson Walid Ghayyad said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.
He pointed out that al-Rahi rejects “the absence of Christians from power, which violates the National Pact.”
Also, diplomats told An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the March 14 alliance, European counties, the United States, Gulf monarchies and Russia voiced agreement over extending Suleiman's term if a consensual candidate was out of reach.
However, Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in remarks to al-Akhbar newspaper that “extending the term of Suleiman is unlikely to happen.”
An Nahar reported early on Tuesday that Suleiman seems not to be interested in the uproar brought up around him on extending his term, and continues to gear up to leave the presidential palace on the date set by the constitution.
Several politicians close to Suleiman, including al-Hennawi, have suggested to extend his term in a bid to avoid vacuum in the top Christian post after the parliament's failure to secure quorum in three parliamentary sessions for the election of a new president.
However, Suleiman carries on with the preparations to leave the presidential palace together with his advisers and assistants after a farewell celebration organized in that regard at Baabda, An Nahar said.
Visitors to Suleiman quoted him as saying that extending his term is impossible and that he had decided to leave the presidential palace on the 25th of May and is scheduled to receive visitors at his own residence in Amsheet, al-Liwaa daily reported.
The President will hold a farewell celebration at Baabda on May 24 and will deliver a farewell speech, it added.
D.A./ S.D.B.
G.K./ Y.R.
13 May 2014, 10:28
38
Ft I see you're still fuming at the fact that Sleiman crossed nasrallah's red lines and destroyed Assad's newly freed envoy shaker el 3absi in nahr el bared, will you never forgive him?
13 May 2014, 17:53
38
He said that after KSA gave the LAF 3 billion USD in military aid. Your Iran and your sectarian militia gave the LAF zero. Yes, every honorable lebanese will say the same. Hypocrite sectarian
13 May 2014, 18:16
27
if the president had said long live iran or assad then southern will be hailing him as a hero.
13 May 2014, 18:17
26
This is a formula of "politeness"... something you're obviously unfamiliar with.
Instead of commenting on irrelevant things. Please comment on Iran calling Lebanon its frontline !
This means Iran considers Lebanon its territory. No need for a new president as our country is now ruled by your stone age terrorist Khomeini.
Is Hassan Nasrallah our new governor ? Will he be moving to Baabda or remain hidden underground ?
13 May 2014, 18:48
39
hypocrite, why don't you then appreciate KSA for giving the LAF weapons if you care so much about the LAF.
13 May 2014, 19:29
35
Southern : don't be fooled ! These weapons are the reason Lebanon is still entangled in regional disasters !
13 May 2014, 21:17
25
sure...suleiman wasn't the commander in chief of the lebanese army under lahoud...sure suleiman always hated the LAF so he never did a thing from 1998 to 2008 while commanding it... sure suleiman is a bad guy because he dared stand against hezbollah....sure suleiman did nothing to kick out the syrian fateh elislam from Nahr elbared...
sure lahoud was not the syrian choice and was never under the orders of syria....sure lahoud strenghten the presidency ROFL
sure M8ers BS will try and smear suleiman's image since he talked against hezbollah and was always between M8 and M14....
suleiman did more than lahoud ever did for Lebanon... but M8ers mix Lebanon with syrian interests... so sure he was a bad president!
but we are used to these childish comments, so nothing new under M8 stupidity....
13 May 2014, 23:51
14
don't worry anonyme... FPMers see the world in binary mode...
lahoud was elected by the syrians = so he was a good lebanese...
suleiman talked against hezbollah so he is paid by saudis and hate the LAF...
they don't see thing more complicated than this... normal: they lack a brain so they just repeat M8 propaganda... even forgetting that at the time M14 criticized his nomination because of his ties with a high ranking syrian officer... LOL go figure how stupid they are!
14 May 2014, 13:56
02
Southern, lest we forget that it's a free world after all. So even thoiugh I will hold your views in full respect but also, lest we forget, one of Suleiman's finest moments was when he decided to stand firm against a powerful militia hellbent on forcing him to toe a line that His Excellency deemed totally unpatriotic. To people like me at least, that would remain one of his finest moments, one of many in fact. Suleiman for all intents and purposes has proven that very few men remain around that can muster enough courage and decency to say NO, when one must say NO. I hope the one that will take his place will not be a Yes-Chanter.
14 May 2014, 14:00
10
My dear son of Ibinbatrakrahi, in this case Alfinik, one of the many in fact, divinity has proven to me that some prayers will be unanswered, and this in your case. I have prayed hard that divinity will change you for the better an transform you into a net contributor to humanity, but for all obejects and intents, divinity has confirmed that prayers said of you will not be answered. So sadly, as the unofficial self-appointed Gabonenese Grey Parrot Mascot of this forum, you will sadly not change. Too bad for you and all the flies that are born of your womb.
