Report: Bkirki Holds Talks with Christian Leaders to 'Develop Ways to Demand Election of President'

Head of the Maronite patriarchate in Bkirki held consultations on Friday with a number of Christian leaderships over the presidential deadlock, reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.

It said that the talks focused on how to “develop ways to demand the election of a president after it appeared that all theoretical positions did not lead to holding the polls.”

The consultations are being held away from the media spotlight “in order to reach positions that differ from the repeated pledges to elect a new head of state.”

“The new stances have varied and they include holding an international campaign to elect a president and mobilizing the people to reach this end,” added An Nahar, saying that two weeks will be given before final stand is taken.

Observers said that the consultations will be negatively affected by the negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and the results of the Israeli elections that saw the reelection of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.

These two developments will affect the capabilities of the U.S. administration's foreign policy, they noted.

Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.

The delay in staging the election has forced it to become linked to foreign affairs, with March 14 officials repeatedly claiming that Iran is hindering them.

M.T.