Hizbullah Mum over FPM Direct Elections Proposal

Hizbullah remained silent over the Free Patriotic Movement's recent proposal on the election of the president directly by the people.

Sources close to the party stressed that head of the FPM Michel Aoun didn't discuss his suggestion, which requires a constitutional amendment, with the party.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Thursday that Hizbullah considers the Change and Reform bloc's proposal should be thoroughly studied before taking a stance from it.

The Change and Reform bloc proposed a draft law that sees the election of a president by the people. In the first round of the direct elections, only Christians would vote for the candidates.

In the second round, the polls would be held at the level of the entire nation to pave way for both Muslims and Christians to choose the two candidates who received the majority of votes in the first round.

The suggestion has been totally rejected by Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun's rivals in the March 14 alliance.

According to al-Joumhouria, Hizbullah didn't also take a final decision regarding the extension of the parliament's term, although the party is an advocate for carrying out timely constitutional deadlines.

The vacancy in the country's top Christian post and the looming parliamentary elections raised fears of more vacuum in top institutions.

Some parliamentary blocs are calling for another extension of the legislature's term, while others, including Speaker Nabih Berri, are rejecting such a move.

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