Franjieh to Patriarch Rahi: I Told You I Will Not Provide Quorum and You Accepted My Stance
Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh stated on Friday that he had promised Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that he will not provide the necessary quorum at the parliament to prevent his political foe's election, adding also that he disagrees with the head of the Maronite Church over the fear of vacuum in the presidency.
"The constitution discussed the needed quorum in parliamentary sessions (dedicated to elect a new president) but it did not say anything about requiring MPs to be present,” Franjieh said in an interview on al-Manar television.
"Lawmakers have the right to miss the sessions,” he remarked.
Al-Rahi told LBCI television on Thursday that being present at parliamentary sessions to elect a new head of state is a “national duty because the MPs were elected by the people and their presence is a constitutional duty.”
But Franjieh insisted that no agreement was reached during the Maronite leaders' meeting in Bkirki over being present at parliament and providing the necessary quorum for electing a president.
He elaborated: “I have told the patriarch that if my political foe received 85 votes and needed one more to win the presidential race, I will not vote in his favor. But if he took office, I will respect him and cooperate with him. (Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel) Aoun told al-Rahi he supported my decision and (Kataeb Party leader) Amin Gemayel also agreed with me.”
Franjieh was referring to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, a presidential candidate who was able to gather 48 votes in his favor in the first round of votes at the parliament. Meanwhile, 52 MPs cast a blank vote, centrist nominee Henri Helou won the support of 16 lawmakers and Gemayel got one vote in his favor.
Franjieh stated: “I will be Geagea's biggest opponents if he takes office, but this does not mean that he is not a strong candidate.”
The Marada Movement head remarked that Aoun “will always be in harmony with Hizbullah” and that if he becomes president, he will not demand the party to withdraw from Syria.
The northern leader also voiced support for electing a president by the people.
Franjieh noted that he does not agree with the patriarch on his “fear of vacuum” in the presidency.
"I am not worried about vacuum. I have told you I will not be present to provide quorum and you accepted my statement," he said addressing al-Rahi.
Meanwhile, he considered that former Prime Minister Saad Hariri does not support neither Aoun nor Geagea for office.
"He wants a weak president. He is wasting time to assure al-Rahi, but he wants to reach a settlement later.”
In the second round of votes on Wednesday, lawmakers once again failed to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum.
While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.
Berri set Wednesday, May 7 for a third round of voting.
S.D.B.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/129022 |