Franjieh calls for 'constructive dialogue with everyone'
Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh on Wednesday thanked the 51 MPs who voted for him in the 12th presidential election session that was held earlier in the day without producing a winner.
“We also respect the opinion of the lawmakers who did not vote for me and this should push for constructive dialogue with everyone,” Franjieh added, in a tweet.
Franjieh’s main electoral rival Jihad Azour received 59 votes in the first round of voting in Wednesday’s session. Speaker Nabih Berri later adjourned the session amid a loss of quorum and controversy over a “lost” vote. Eighty-six votes are needed by any candidate to win from the first round while 65 are needed in the second round.
MPs from both camps claimed “victory” after the session.
Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than seven months, and the previous attempt to elect a president was held on January 19.
Source: Naharnet
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