Gemayel to opposition: Securing quorum to Franjieh like electing him
Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel on Thursday warned the opposition forces that securing parliamentary quorum for the election of Suleiman Franjieh would be “equivalent to electing him.”
“I reassure everyone that the kingdom has not requested and we do not receive instructions from anyone, seeing as our stances and choices are related to our convictions and our country’s interest,” Gemayel said after meeting Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari in Saifi.
“The Arab stance is clear in standing by Lebanon if it is willing to carry out reforms, but if it heads to further isolation and subordination to Hezbollah, the Arab brothers have sent a clear message that it won’t be able to depend on them,” Gemayel added.
“We reject the election of any candidate loyal to Hezbollah and it is not required to replace Franjieh with someone else (who is loyal to Hezbollah), because the matter is about a political choice and not the person,” the Kataeb chief went on to say.
As for the possibility of electing a so-called consensual president, Gemayel said: “If it possible to agree on a consensual president and if they would withdraw Franjieh, we would withdraw our candidate Michel Mouawad.”
“We would then go to parliament with the presence of three or four candidates and let the best candidate win,” Gemayel added.
05 May 2023, 12:50
00
The policy of the 'empty chair' may appear to be an effective tactic to apply pressure on fellow MPs in the short-term, but it inevitably leads to negative long-term consequences. Such consequences include the loss of influence, weakened relations, and a compromised reputation. As elected representatives, they have a responsibility to find solutions to their country's problems, and boycotting parliamentary proceedings is an act of destruction. Former MP Berry's two-year-long absence is a prime example of this, and any current MP who follows suit is demonstrating their inability to do their job. Instead, they should focus on finding common ground and reaching a consensus on important matters, such as jumpstarting the economy. Recent events have once again shown that political dynasties are detrimental to the health of a democracy, as heirs to political power are often incapable and unsuited for the role.
