Harb: Gemayel, Geagea Have Nomination Right, Candidacy without March 14 Consensus Harms Victory Chances
MP Boutros Harb stated on Monday that no political figure should run for office without the consensus of the March 14 coalition, explaining that this would hinder the alliance's chances of victory in the presidential race.
"Any Lebanese Maronite who thinks that they are competent can run for office," Harb said after meeting with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab.
Kataeb Party chief Amin "Gemayel is one of (the March 14) alliance's main leaders and he, as well as Geagea, both have the right to nominate themselves," he added.
But the Minister of Telecommunications stressed that no candidacy should be submitted without March 14's agreement.
"Or else, we will lose in the presidential race," he noted.
Harb, however, assured that the coalition's parties are "fully cooperating to go through the elections successfully."
He elaborated: "I met with Gemayel last week and we will also hold talks next week. We are waiting for him to meet with March 14 leaders and with all Lebanese politicians to study the circumstances leading to the polls."
Harb declared that "postponement is the fate" of Wednesday's parliamentary session, during which lawmakers are supposed to elect a new president.
"The possibility of reaching vacuum in the presidency is worrisome and it is a negative mark in the political life in Lebanon. The state cannot be built unless there is a head of state or else it would be subjected to dangers and this would threaten the harmony between its institutions."
"We will strive to avoid vacuum," he assured.
The Batroun MP explained that the solution to avoiding vacuum would be in all parties abiding by constitutional guidelines, heading to the parliament to provide quorum, and electing a president with a simple majority.
"This is a healthy democratic practice," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, in case of vacuum presidential powers would become in the hands of the council of ministers, Harb said.
"But this does not mean that there would be no crisis in the country...the cabinet does not fill this vacuum and it will act quickly to assure the election of a president," he told reporters.
"The absence of a president harms sectarian balance in the country and Christians would feel that vacuum in the presidency marginalizes their participation in the nation-building process," Harb expressed.
During the first round of the presidential polls, 52 MPs from the March 8 alliance cast blank ballots, Geagea received the votes of only 48 MPs while 16 lawmakers voted for Aley lawmaker Henri Helou and one for Gemayel.
The March 8 MPs later pulled out of the session, causing a lack of quorum. The same lawmakers, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections.
The same scenario is expected to take place next Wednesday during the third round.
President Michel Suleiman's tenure ends on May 25.
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Source: Agence France Presse
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