Report: Hariri Discussed with Berri 'Logical Settlement' to Resolve Presidential Crisis
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri has reportedly informed Speaker Nabih Berri that he backed a “logical settlement” on the presidential deadlock by agreeing on personalities, who are currently not candidates.
Al-Akhbar daily said that Hariri's proposal on the settlement, includes the withdrawal of the candidacies of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to “agree on a personality who is capable of protecting the political understanding.”
Hariri suggested the names of former Minister Jean Obeid and Army chief Gen. Jean Qahwaji, said al-Akhbar.
Geagea is backed by the March 14 alliance. But Aoun has not officially announced his candidacy, saying there should be consensus on him first.
The names of Obeid and Qahwaji have made the rounds as possible candidates after the parliament failed to find a successor to President Michel Suleiman, whose term expired in May.
The lawmakers of Aoun's Change and Reform bloc along with the majority of the March 8 MPs have been boycotting parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president, causing a lack of quorum.
Their boycott is aimed at preventing Geagea from reaching the country's top Christian post.
According to al-Akhbar, Hariri made it clear to Berri that the new president should make guarantees to Hizbullah that its arsenal would not be under scrutiny for the time being.
“But this president should reach clear understandings with us on the management of the (country's) political and economic affairs,” he allegedly said.
The March 14 alliance's officials, including the Mustaqbal movement leader, have for long called on Hizbullah to hand over its weapons and integrate with the Lebanese army.
G.K.
H.K.
25 August 2014, 14:14
12
exactly flamethrower! Aoun is not a candidate but M14 wants to force him to announce his candidacy!
25 August 2014, 14:15
12
i love your sense and witty sense of humor. You are something another!
25 August 2014, 15:56
00
Don't be that naive. He will only announce his candidacy once he is sure that everyone will vote for him. That guy doesn't know how to lose... He just wanna win no matter what the results will be, or just hide and run away...
25 August 2014, 19:05
00
aoun didn't announce his candidacy either but bil ouwwe he wants to be the consensual president
25 August 2014, 09:27
34
What a shame! Look at what we have reached! other sects arranging to find alternatives for a Chritian president! I hope you are happy Mr. Aoun! Have some guts and announce your presidency and go down to parliament and compete against your rival! ya 3aybishoum bass!! Tfeh!
25 August 2014, 10:44
11
Presidency is not a Maronite is neither a Maronite issue, nor a Maronite deadlock Ya 7ilo!
This is a Lebanese Issue that has to be resolved, primarily by electing the president by universal suffrage. If that is impossible, I am with abolishing the post of president all together, as the cabinet and the PM are enough to run the country. The joke of the "presidential elections" since 1976 undermine our "democracy"and exposes to the world the joke the Lebanese system is.
25 August 2014, 11:48
53
flamethrower, is the resistance and its illegal arms just a shiite issue?
25 August 2014, 11:52
20
Their officials are elected in the US! Ours are appointed. That is the difference. Sectarian or not, U can not deny that what has been going on with the presidential elections for the last 3 decades is not pathetic. The system clearly does NOT work. Either abolish the post and give all powers to the cabinet (and the legislature of course)..Create a Senate or whatever to guarantee the rights of representation to all .. or increase the powers of the president and let us elect him or her! very simple. The current system is untenable.
25 August 2014, 12:30
22
of course flamethrower, same way when you see a blonde western man you say "oh look, there is a white man".
25 August 2014, 12:49
10
And the US, Saudi, and Qatar??, and France, Syria, even Cyrpus might have a say!!! The president is Lebanese in name only!
25 August 2014, 13:33
12
Everyone have to come together, and perhaps Gebran Bassil could make an excellent president. why not! All the others are not better at all.
25 August 2014, 17:12
11
Flamethrower, don't ever talk about Democrats or American politics. If you wanna talk about racism, you know it was the Democrats in 1865 who were against the 13th Amendment (which abolished slavery), as they did not support racial equality. And stop complaining about people importing their "filthy US rhetoric." You know the majority of the people on this site are sympathetic to March 14, so why don't you write on As-Safir? They're all March 8, go spew your filthy Iranian rhetoric on that site
25 August 2014, 17:46
00
When the Maronites lock up, as they ave since before May of this year on the election of the person to fill their Presidential seat, expect that that Shi leader and the Sunni leader, and toss in Jumblatt for good measure will get together with their regional patrons to resolve the issue and select the Maronite President. It's all due to the power vacuum created by Christian and Maronite inability to resolve their differences and make a decision.
Also, expect the Maronites to moan and groan about how others decide who will be their leaders, or a that the President who is selected has no credibility with the Lebanese Christians. Only look in the mirror Lebanese Christian politicians and there you will find who is sapping the power of the Lebanese Christians. You are your own worst enemies.
25 August 2014, 17:57
00
What is something I wanna hear, Binary? Something I wanna hear is something that would be good for a country, even if it's an empty promise. For example, disarming Hezbollah is something I enjoy hearing, whereas allowing them to keep their arms is something I don't wanna hear. So does that really make me March 14? You say yes, but in reality many people despise Hezbollah, not just March 14 supporters.
25 August 2014, 18:04
00
And since you hate America so much, why are you on an English-language forum? What's wrong with living in America? 95% of the people don't even know Lebanon is a country, which is good for their mental health. People mow their lawns (a very rare scene in Lebanon), watch their little kids play baseball, have barbecues in their backyard, have laws that represent a civil country. At least in America we don't go to jail if someone jumps off a building and lands on your car.
25 August 2014, 18:23
00
As for your beloved first American slave owner, Anthony Johnson, he was an indentured servant. When he gained his freedom he had an indentured servant, and when that servant went to work for someone else he sued, claiming his servant was stolen and should be his for life. He won the case and the indentured servant become the first "slave."
Stop trying to manipulate me, Binary. By the way, do you know the difference between an indentured servant and a slave?
25 August 2014, 22:31
00
in 'lock up' since 1976!!! Actually leadership in ALL sects is beyond pathetic, downright criminal, and the Lebanese have been voting with their feet: getting the hell out of the country!
