Report: Hariri Vows to al-Rahi to Hold Presidential Elections after Parliament's Extension
Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri highlighted to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi the need to extend parliament's term given the failure to elect a new president, explaining that Lebanon will be faced with vacuum in these two state institutions if the extension does not take place, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.
Hariri pledged to al-Rahi that he will “not back down from staging the presidential elections after the extension.”
The MP made his vow during a meeting the two official held in Rome earlier this week.
Al-Rahi had meanwhile expressed his concern that the extension will lead politicians to adopt an indifferent approach towards the presidential polls.
Hariri attempted to assuage the patriarch's fears by pledging to hold the presidential elections after the extension, revealing that the March 14 alliance will name a compromise presidential candidate as a means to end the presidential deadlock.
The reveal of a new candidate will demonstrate the camp's loyalty to Hariri's vow to al-Rahi and ease Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's fears that his withdrawal from the presidential race will complicate affairs on the ground and grant the March 8 camp the upper hand.
Hariri had adamantly rejected staging the parliamentary elections in light of the vacuum in the presidency, saying that the Mustaqbal Movement will boycott the polls should they go ahead.
Media reports had recently claimed that the MP and al-Rahi had discussed during their meeting alternative presidential candidates, which the head of the Mustaqbal Movement later denied.
Geagea and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou have announced their candidacy for the elections, while the March 8 camp has not revealed its nominee.
Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun had repeatedly said that he is willing to run in the elections if there is consensus over him.
Geagea had accused the March 8 alliance of adopting this tactic to blackmail the other political powers into electing Aoun as president.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
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