Berri Keen to Keep Presidential Elections as Lebanese as Possible
Speaker Nabih Berri has not invited ambassadors and diplomats to attend Wednesday's parliamentary session to elect a new president, which is a reflection of his skepticism that a president would be elected on that day, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.
He told the daily: “I, more than any other official, insist that the elections be as Lebanese as possible.”
He revealed that no foreign intervention has been made regarding the elections, adding that no ambassador has yet spoken to him of the preference of one individual over another for the presidential elections.
“I will hold the parliamentary session according to the regulations,” Berri added.
Moreover, he noted that a new president will not necessarily be elected during the first round, even if the needed quorum is met at parliament.
Any candidate must secure two-thirds of votes to win in the first round of elections.
“Efforts will be exerted to ensure the success of the second round, which requires the vote of 65 lawmakers to elect a president,” said the speaker.
The speaker had called parliament to convene on April 23 to elect a president.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is so far the only official to submit his candidacy for the elections.
The March 8 camp has not yet announced its candidate, but recent reports said that it may nominate MP Emile Rahme.
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D.A.
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