Change and Reform Rejects 'Killing Democracy' by Extending Suleiman's Term
The Change and Reform bloc of MP Michel Aoun announced on Tuesday its rejection of any extension of President Michel Suleiman's term, saying that it would be fatal to democracy in Lebanon.
MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “We will appeal such a decision and follow through with it to the end.”
He stressed the need to elect a new president before Suleiman's term ends on May 25, highlighting the importance of quorum at parliament to ensure that the polls are held.
The fourth round of the presidential elections is scheduled for Thursday.
The previous two rounds failed to be held due to a lack of quorum that was caused by a boycott by the March 8 camp, including the Change and Reform bloc, over the ongoing disputes with the March 14 alliance on the elections.
Addressing the March 14 camp, Kanaan asked: “Do you choose the republic and constitutional means to rule the country or do you choose to run the country as previous administrations have?”
“Our rejection of the extension of Suleiman's term is not personal, but what applies to past presidents should apply to this one,” he remarked.
“We must respect the Taef Accord,” he declared.
Media reports have been focusing in recent days on the possibility of extending the president's term given the ongoing dispute over the elections and fears of the vacuum in the country's top post.
The March 14 alliance, European counties, the United States, Gulf monarchies and Russia voiced agreement over extending Suleiman's term if a consensual candidate was out of reach, diplomats told An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.
Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in remarks to al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that “extending the term of Suleiman is unlikely to happen.”
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