Al-Rahi Calls on March 8, 14 to Withdraw Presidential Candidates

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi expressed belief on Sunday that the political powers should elect a consensual president who is not affiliated to March 8 or 14 alliances and considered not provocative.

“As long as the March 14 coalition will not allow the March 8 candidate to reach the presidential post and vise versa, then we should choose a head of state not affiliated to both alliances,” al-Rahi said during Sunday's sermon in his summer seat of Diman.

He stressed that the “important matter is bring to power a president that would be up to the level of challenges confronting the country.”

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea, who has received the backing of the March 14 camp and his March 8 rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun are both running for the elections.

But Aoun has not officially nominated himself, claiming there should be consensus on him first. His Change and Reform bloc and other MPs from the March 8 alliance have been boycotting parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president, causing a lack of quorum.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has nominated Aley lawmaker Henri Helou but vowed to withdraw his candidacy if the other candidates decided to do so in an attempt to resolve the country's presidential deadlock.

Lebanon has been plunged into a leadership vacuum after Michel Suleiman's presidential term ended on May 25 with rival political blocs still divided over a new leader.

The parliament convened nine times to try to elect a successor to Suleiman but failed during the last eight sessions due to a lack of quorum.

He lashed out at MPs for violating the constitution and their failure to elect a new president, slamming Speaker Nabih Berri for not calling for parliamentary sessions in this regard.

“The parliament should convene and elect a head of state,” al-Rahi pointed out.

H.K.