Gemayel: We Will Face Constitutional, Financial, Security Repercussions from Vacuum

Head of the Kataeb Party Amin Gemayel stressed that the March 14 alliance fulfilled its duties towards the presidential elections, lamenting the consequent vacuum in the presidency, which he said will negatively affect Lebanon's credibility, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Monday.

He told the daily: “We will undoubtedly face constitutional repercussions as a result of the vacuum.”

“We will also face legal, economic, financial, social, and eventually security ones,” he warned.

“All the March 14 camp cares about is staging the polls and the election of a president,” Gemayel added.

“Despite the tragedy of the vacuum, the alliance's conscience is clear and we will not surrender to our fate, but we will continue efforts to hold the elections,” vowed the Kataeb chief.

He revealed that he will not halt his contacts with various political leaders that he kicked off about two weeks ago, which were aimed at ensuring that the elections are held.

“I will intensify my contacts and communicate with all sides so that the elections are staged as soon as possible in order to eliminate the lethal and suicidal vacuum,” he stressed.

“All sides must realize the severity of the situation and derive national and moral lessons from this vacuum,” he continued.

“All powers must therefore revise their calculations and contribute to staging the polls,” Gemayel remarked.

Asked whether the Kataeb Party will take part in legislative sessions at parliament, he replied: “We cannot make light of the vacuum in the presidency and act as if this is a reality that we should adapt to.”

“We can never accept this reality because Lebanon is based on the National Pact” that calls for power-sharing between Muslims and Christians, he said.

“The parliament speaker and prime minister must take into consideration the flaw in the country and realize that it poses a threat to the principles Lebanon is built on,” he added.

The Kataeb had demanded on Friday respecting the Constitution's articles 73, 74, and 75, which stipulate that the parliament becomes an electoral body, not a legislative one, until a new president is elected.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended on Saturday with parliament failing to elect his successor due to the ongoing differences between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over the elections.

The dispute prompted the March 8 forces to boycott the majority of the presidential elections sessions.

M.T.

H.K.