Suleiman: I Have Nothing to Do with Term Extension Proposals
President Michel Suleiman denied on Tuesday that he has anything to do with suggested proposals to extend his presidential term, adding that he was looking forward to May 25 when his time in office ends.
"Sunday, May 25, is another day that I haven't witnessed anything like in 47 years,” Suleiman said on Twitter.
"I am happily looking forward to it,” he added.
Suleiman also stated that “he has nothing to do” with suggested proposals to extend his tern in office.
Sports and Youth Minister Abdul Muttaleb Hennawi, who is close to President Michel Suleiman, stressed on Monday the need to find a constitutional solution that would allow Suleiman to stay in office “until the election of a new president” should MPs fail to elect a head of state before May 25.
“Just like there is an exit that prevents vacuum at the helms of the legislative and executive authorities, a formula allowing an incumbent president to stay in office until the election of a new president must be devised,” Hennawi explained.
He noted that such a solution will not be aimed at serving Suleiman's own interest, stressing that it would be beneficial for “Lebanon's future.”
The minister added the cabinet should prepare a draft law in this regard and refer it to parliament where it would be put to a vote.
Kuwait's al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Saturday that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi had discussed with Suleiman the possibility of extending his time in office awaiting the election of a new president, in order to avoid vacuum in the presidency.
But Bkiri on Tuesday denied these reports.
“The Patriarch merely proposed an idea to avert any vacuum” at the helm of the country's top Christian post, Bkirki spokesperson Walid Ghayyad said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.
He pointed out that al-Rahi rejects “the absence of Christians from power, which violates the National Pact.”
Also, diplomats told An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the March 14 alliance, European counties, the United States, Gulf monarchies and Russia voiced agreement over extending Suleiman's term if a consensual candidate was out of reach.
However, Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said in remarks to al-Akhbar newspaper that “extending the term of Suleiman is unlikely to happen.”
An Nahar reported early on Tuesday that Suleiman seems not to be interested in the uproar brought up around him on extending his term, and continues to gear up to leave the presidential palace on the date set by the constitution.
Several politicians close to Suleiman, including al-Hennawi, have suggested to extend his term in a bid to avoid vacuum in the top Christian post after the parliament's failure to secure quorum in three parliamentary sessions for the election of a new president.
However, Suleiman carries on with the preparations to leave the presidential palace together with his advisers and assistants after a farewell celebration organized in that regard at Baabda, An Nahar said.
Visitors to Suleiman quoted him as saying that extending his term is impossible and that he had decided to leave the presidential palace on the 25th of May and is scheduled to receive visitors at his own residence in Amsheet, al-Liwaa daily reported.
The President will hold a farewell celebration at Baabda on May 24 and will deliver a farewell speech, it added.
D.A./ S.D.B.
G.K./ Y.R.
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