Al-Rahi: Distinction Must Be Made between Accepting Presidential Initiative and Proposed Candidate
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi justified on Sunday his recent remarks that the political initiative aimed at ending the deadlock in Lebanon should be taken seriously.
He said during his Sunday sermon: “Our saying that the initiative should be taken seriously means that we are distinguishing between it and the name being proposed.”
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri had proposed in recent months a settlement that would see Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh elected president as part of a greater political initiative in Lebanon.
The suggestion was met with reservations from the March 8 and 14 camps.
Al-Rahi's remarks on Thursday that the initiative “should be taken seriously” was met with criticism, most notably from the Change and Reform bloc.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/198041 |