Franjieh Stresses Need for Strong President as Berri's Elections Committee Meets al-Rahi
Head of the Marada Movement MP Suleiman Franjieh stated on Monday that he is keen on the election of a president within the constitutional deadline.
He said after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri's presidential elections committee: “We seek the election of a strong president as do all the Lebanese people.”
“Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi also aspires to the election of strong president and we are studying how to reach this goal,” added the MP.
“We share the same aspirations as Berri as we have an historic alliance that currently stands and will continue in the future,” he remarked.
“I do not place principles that would hinder the election of a strong president,” said Franjieh.
Committee member MP Yassin Jaber meanwhile hoped that the committee will conclude its meetings with political forces at the end of this week.
“All sides are voicing their readiness to attend the parliamentary session aimed at electing a new president” in May, he added.
“They all requested some time to prepare for the session to ensure its success,” he explained.
The presidential elections committee continued its consultations on Monday by later holding talks with al-Rahi at Bkirki.
"We will inform the speaker that the patriarch is keen on holding the presidential elections on time, and on avoiding vacuum in the presidency,” Jaber said after the meeting.
The committee is comprised of Development and Liberation bloc MPs Jaber, Ali Osseiran, and Michel Moussa.
The constitutional deadline to elect a new president kicked off on March 25.
The elections are scheduled for May 25.
Franjieh had stated last week that he would advocate Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to run for the elections, adding that he will not run in the polls without the lawmaker's consent.
A spokesman for Bkirki said on Saturday that Franjieh, Aoun, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, and Kataeb chief Amin Gemayel are all candidates in the presidential elections.
M.T.
S.D.B.
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