Report: Patriarch Rahi Pays Nasrallah a Visit
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has allegedly visited Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah a couple of weeks ago following a meeting he held with the French President Francois Hollande during his trip to Lebanon, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.
The daily quoted March 14 sources as saying that the two officials discussed the vacuum at the presidential post in light of a recent proposal to shorten the presidential term from six to two years as a temporary solution.
Media reports have spoken lately of proposals calling for shortening the term of a potential “transitional president.”
They also said that Bkirki had proposed the idea which was refuted by Beirut Maronite Bishop Boulos Matar who said that attempts to drag the name of the Maronite patriarchate in this debate “are not innocent.”
Sources at Bkirki did not make any comment about al-Rahi's visit, but sources from the March 8 alliance said that communications between Bkirki and the leadership of Hizbullah are based on what the Patriarch heard from French sides who emphasized that the key to the presidential election is in the hands of Nasrallah.
Hizbullah sources said the reports are mainly rumors.
In April, Hollande visited Lebanon where he met with senior officials and visited a Syrian refugee camp in the eastern Bekaa region.
He held talks with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and other officials.
Lebanon has been without a president since the term of president Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.
D.A.
M.T.
Source: Naharnet
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