Raad Says Boycott of Presidential Vote Sessions a 'Constitutional Right'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
MP Mohammed Raad, the head of Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance bloc, on Friday described the behavior of lawmakers boycotting parliamentary sessions to elect a new president as a “constitutional” right.
“MPs are addressing the issue of electing a president according to their constitutional, legal, political, human and national right,” Raad said during a Hizbullah ceremony in the southern town of Jbaa.
This right “is being practiced by those who want to preserve the country and pave the ground for the election of a president who can safeguard the country and its strength,” the MP added.
The parliament had failed Thursday to elect a new president in the fifth round of the polls that was seen as a last-ditch effort to pick a new head of state before the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's six-year term on Sunday.
The election could not take place because the majority of the March 8 alliance's lawmakers boycotted the session.
Referring to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea without naming him, Raad said the LF chief's nomination was “exploited” by his allies during the constitutional timeframe, noting that they would start searching for other candidates after the deadline passes.
The Hizbullah lawmaker said the rival camp's conduct was detrimental to the electoral process.
The March 14 coalition has fielded Geagea as its official nominee in the presidential race but the LF leader received 48 votes during the first round of polls, falling short of the 86 votes needed to be elected president.
Geagea is known for his opposition to Hizbullah's policies and his presidential program contains a clause on ending Israel's occupation of the Shebaa Farms through negotiations with Syria and the U.N. ahead of integrating the party's arsenal of weapons into the Lebanese Armed Forces.
But Raad reminded in his speech that “we in Lebanon have come a long way to control our own decision, preserve our sovereignty, prevent aggression against our people and achieve an equation of deterrence that our enemy cannot overlook.”
Y.R.
M.T.
23 May 2014, 17:40
220
How about the constitutional rights of the vast majority of the lebanese who do not want you, your hateful militia, and your intimidation of our democratic system.
23 May 2014, 19:24
810
Hezb is like the preventive medicine, it maintains the body sane and strengthens it to avoid the forthcoming diseases that otherwise the body could end collapsing!
23 May 2014, 18:21
312
Mr Raad,if your going to give your opinion on something, lets stick to things you understand, next time if the topic is about falafel and mankoush then by all means nock yourself out,however if its about the constitution then best you leave it to others to comment on
23 May 2014, 19:05
312
Raad: This is Lebanon you god damn traitor, not Iran. You're reading the wrong constitution. It's your constitutional duty to vote and boycotting the elections means you're a traitor.
Hezbollah has no lessons to teach about the constitution given it has broken every single article in it !
Now it's time to hang you traitor and persian dog along with your barker in chief Nasrallah for high treason !
23 May 2014, 19:53
112
These people are disgusting..... It is my way or the highway! Go to parliament and keep voting until someone gets in even at 50%+1 History will not be kind to you and your likes... Shame shame shame
23 May 2014, 20:48
29
Shame on all the followers of a man who is mentally ill - zero nerves - megalomaniac - liar and sold to the outside.
This man pretends defending the Christian interests BUT he is destroying the National Pact. Nothing less than that!
23 May 2014, 20:59
28
How much more do you need to understand that the objectives of the "party" are to swallow the state? First step wll be to destroy our institutions.
Sorry, to say it loud and clear, but NapoleAoun is a vulgar traitor. You will see it ...hope it won't be too late when you will understand ...
23 May 2014, 21:03
28
Followers: here on this BLOG you have kept insulting Hariri, Saudi Arabia, and called them Takfiris etc...
BUT what do you say now when your General is begging them??? What do you say to his agreement towards Hariri, Saudi Arabia AND Geagea??? What do you think of your leader???
You just obey like rats! It is not the fault of the General of being a dirty liar, it is the fault of those who still don't want to know!!!
23 May 2014, 21:39
26
These are the Iranians we want http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg5qdIxVcz8
Not the current bearded fundamentalists in Teheran that are as big a threat as ISIS and Nusrah.
24 May 2014, 01:01
19
+1000, these scums keep their weapons to control lebanon, syria and have leverage on israel...
24 May 2014, 03:02
16
This guy must be a constitutional scholar. What law school did he teach at?
24 May 2014, 05:07
00
For all you skeptics about a State within a State, explain this, “we in Lebanon have come a long way to control our own decision" Speaks for itself.
24 May 2014, 07:27
06
Let's read the very last paragraph , we have come a long way etc etc.
What he really saying is regardless of all the good intentions in any presudential program or MOU and regardless of any peaceful outcome reached we are not releasing our weapons and we will not discuss this matter. These scum are clearly and without a shadow of a doubt not even contemplating any concessions or discussion on their arms. Aoun is not making this a priority therefore we must draw a line in the sand we either want this militia to remain separate from the state or we need to integrate it no other option clearly exists.
