Kataeb Says Vacuum Threatens Unity, Parliament Must Not Legislate after Suleiman Leaves

The Kataeb party on Friday urged electing a new president, warning that vacuum in the state's top post threatens unity in the nation.

"We call on the nation's MPs to benefit from the remaining hours (before the president's term ends) to elect a new head of state because vacuum in the presidency suspends the role of a main constituent in the country and the state, and also threatens Lebanon's unity,” it said in a released statement after an extraordinary meeting chaired by party leader Amin Gemayel.

The statement elaborated: “The president is a symbol of the state and it is not permissible to adapt to vacuum, fearing its dangerous consequences on the National Pact and the country.”

The Kataeb urged lawmakers who have been boycotting parliamentary sessions dedicated to electing a new head of state, particularly Christian MPs, to fulfill their “sacred duty, be present at the parliament, secure quorum, and vote for a new president.”

"Otherwise, the people should press all concerned parties as of May 25 to save the Republic.”

In this regard, the party also demanded respecting the Constitution's articles 73, 74, and 75, which stipulate that the parliament becomes an electoral body, not a legislative one, until a new president is elected.

"In the same context and to assure respecting these constitutional articles and the National Pact, the Kataeb party asks the cabinet to act in caretaker capacities, rather than fully assume the powers of the president, in case of vacuum.”

The party then assured that its officials are communicating with all political factions in the country, particularly with its allies in the March 14 coalition, to elect a new head of state.

President Michel Suleiman's tenure ends on May 25, but MPs failed on Thursday morning for the fifth time in electing a new head of state over differences between the March 8 and March 14 coalitions.

In the first round of votes at the parliament, no candidate was able to garner the support of the required number of MPs to take office. And in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds, voting did not take place for lack of quorum at the parliament after the March 8 alliance's MPs, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Liberation and Development bloc, boycotted the sessions.

S.D.B.

M.T.