Gemayel: Dialogue is Pointless if it Does Not Lead to Election of President

Head of the Kataeb Party Amin Gemayel questioned the ongoing vacancy in the presidency and the “suicide of Christians” who are contributing to the vacuum, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

He told the daily in an interview: “Dialogue that does not lead to quorum at parliament and the election of a president is pointless.”

He made his remark in reference to the dialogue between the rival Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement.

“The obstruction of the role of the presidency is suicide for Christians and state institutions,” he declared.

“The worst that we can do is grow accustomed to the vacuum,” noted Gemayel.

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.

Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance and MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform blocs have been boycotting the electoral sessions at parliament.

“Hizbullah and the Change and Reform bloc should stop obstructing quorum,” demanded Gemayel.

“The constitution includes articles on how to protect the country. Manipulating these articles to obstruct the constitution is tantamount to a coup,” he remarked.

“In some countries, lawmakers who fail to attend parliament sessions are punished. The current developments in Lebanon are a coup against the constitution and the Lebanese system,” said the Kataeb chief.

He attributed the obstruction to some side's aspiration to be elected president “even though they are aware that the have no chances of victory.”

Moreover, he stated that a single person cannot halt the polls and it is clear that Hizbullah is collaborating with Aoun.

“Whatever his motives, he does not seem to be bothered by the vacuum,” added Gemayel.

He expressed concern that the changes affecting Arab countries could spread to Lebanon, emphasizing that the Lebanese should assume the responsibility in deterring such change.

“We should take into consideration all possibilities and ask where the vacuum is taking us,” he told An Nahar.

M.T.