Geagea slams obstruction of 'entire' presidential election process
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday described the walkout of the pro-Suleiman Franjieh lawmakers from the 12 presidential election session as “a real and actual obstruction of the entire presidential election process.”
“Had the second round (of voting) been held today, we would have had a president now,” Geagea tweeted.
Jihad Azour -- the candidate of the LF, the Free Patriotic Movement and most opposition forces -- received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session as Suleiman Franjieh garnered 51 votes. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round.
MPs from both camps claimed “victory” after the session.
Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.
Source: Naharnet
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