Gemayel Slams Parties Hindering Presidential Elections, Says Aoun's Proposal Poses Further Division
Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel accused on Monday local parties of seeking to impede the presidential elections to implement foreign orders, warning that Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun's latest proposal increases tension among the Lebanese.
Gemayel said in remarks published in the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper that the repercussions of the presidential vacuum are numerous as it impacts the activeness of other state institutions and jeopardizes Lebanon's credibility before the international communities.
The Christian leader lashed out at certain parties, without naming them, for obstructing parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a presidential.
“The obstruction is on purpose to ban the other team from guaranteeing the success of its candidate.”
Eight presidential elections sessions have been held so far, seven of which were not staged due to a boycott of March 8 camp lawmakers, mainly those of the Loyalty to the Resistance and Change and Reform blocs.
The boycott was prompted by an ongoing dispute with the March 14 alliance over a presidential candidate.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea had declared his candidacy, while Aoun has said that he will only run in the polls if there is consensus over his nomination.
The term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May.
“The situation cannot endure to remain the same,” Gemayel told the newspaper.
The Kataeb leader urged the political arch-foes not to adapt with the vacuum, describing it as “dangerous.”
He stressed that the security situation should compel the swift election of a new head of state in order to maintain stability in the state institutions and to fortify the country's unity.
On Aoun's latest proposal, Gemayel considered it an attempt to “cover up for the negativity of the previous stage,” especially after his dialogue with al-Mustaqbal movement didn't reach a common ground.
Aoun suggested last week direct presidential elections on two rounds and called for the adoption of an electoral draft-law that would allow each sect to elect its own representatives.
“An initiative similar to this cannot be proposed amid vacuum,” Gemayel said, saying it violates the Lebanese pact and increases tension among sects.
“We don't need further division among us,” he pointed out.
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