Berri Will Not Participate in Parliamentary Polls if Main Party Boycotts it
Speaker Nabih Berri refused on Wednesday staging of parliamentary elections, if it was boycotted by a key party.
“I support the staging of parliamentary elections but reject carrying it out if a key party boycotted it,” Berri said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at Ain el-Tineh.
Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri had stated on Tuesday after talks in Paris with French President Francois Hollande that the presidential elections should be a priority for Lebanon, revealing that his movement will not participate in the parliamentary polls should they be held in the absence of a president.
Berri revealed during his meeting with MPs that he will call for a session to elect the heads of parliamentary committees, its members and the parliament's bureau members on October 21.
Some political blocs have been demanding that the parliamentary elections, which are set for November, be held even if a head of state is not elected.
Others have been demanding that parliament's term be extended for a second time given the vacuum, poor security situation, and dispute over an electoral law.
Poor security and the disagreement over the law forced the extension of parliament's term last year.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the elections.
H.K.
M.T.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/150292 |