PSP, FPM and Moderation Bloc advise opposition to talk to Berri
The MPs of the Progressive Socialist Party, the Free Patriotic Movement and the Moderation Bloc have advised the opposition to communicate with Speaker Nabih Berri regarding the presidential election crisis, following its latest botched initiative, a media report said.
The PSP delegation that met with the opposition “stressed the need to halt the trade of accusations that would deepen the rift between the parties, recommending communication with Berri to produce a settlement leading to the election of a president,” Asharq al-Awsat newspaper has reported.
“This is what the Free Patriotic Movement, Moderation and New Lebanon blocs have also recommended, although they have dealt positively with the (opposition’s) initiative,” the daily said.
The PSP believes that a presidential settlement would be “impossible without Berri,” the newspaper added.
The opposition lawmakers had on Tuesday announced two suggestions aimed at facilitating the election of a new president and ending the country’s long-running presidential vacuum, an initiative that was dismissed by Berri and his camp.
“MPs would meet in parliament and hold consultations, without an official invitation, institutionalization or any specific framework, out of keenness on respecting the rules related to the election of presidents stipulated by the Lebanese constitution,” the opposition proposed.
“Consultations would not exceed a period of 48 hours, after which MPs would go -- regardless of the consultations’ outcome -- to an open-ended electoral session with successive rounds until a president is elected, as per the constitution,” the opposition added.
Another suggestion would be for Speaker Nabih Berri to “call for a presidential election session under his chairmanship,” the opposition said.
“Should no election take place in the first round, the session would remain open and MPs and blocs would hold consultations outside parliament’s hall for a period not exceeding 48 hours, after which they would return to the hall for voting in successive rounds not exceeding four rounds daily … until the election of a president,” the opposition added.
“All parties would commit to attending the rounds and securing quorum,” it said.
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