Al-Rahi warns of presidency void 'as some nations seek to change Lebanon face'

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday said the political forces that seek presidential vacuum would be comitting "national treason."

"Is there treason toward the country more than blocking the election of a president? And can a path lead to the country's division more than presidential void?" al-Rahi warned in his Sunday Mass sermon.

"Do you realize that heading toward presidential vacuum is happening while some nations are seeking to change Lebanon's face, role, formula and identity without resorting to the people nor their authorities?" al-Rahi cautioned, addressing lawmakers.

Apparently taking a swipe at the recently-postponed Swiss dialogue conference, the patriarch noted that the international conference for Lebanon he had called for is "totally different from the plans of conferences and seminars invented by these countries not to serve Lebanon, but rather to improve their relations with some of the region's nations."