©(Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s initial proposal to break the presidential deadlock is to convene an open parliamentary session with consecutive rounds, preceded by a week-long dialogue chaired by himself. However, the sovereigntist MPs are against this idea, stating that such dialogue violates constitutional principles, and that the role of the Speaker of Parliament is to convene an electoral session.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday, Berri explained his rejection of the idea of MP consultation “with whomever is in attendance” and supported “an inclusive dialogue under the exceptional circumstances that Lebanon is going through.”
Berri emphasized that the only option is consultation or dialogue, adding that it is possible to fill the vacancy within ten days.
The parliament speaker pointed out the urgent need for cooperation to “unite the country” and asked, “What harm is there in dialogue or consultation?”
Of note, the last electoral session convened by Speaker Nabih Berri was on June 13, 2023.
In the same interview, Berri emphasized that there are no preconditions for consultation. “If we agree on a consensus candidate, he will be warmly welcomed and supported by us. Otherwise, we will go to Parliament with a list of candidates from which MPs will choose the president in consecutive parliamentary sessions with multiple electoral rounds, provided that a two-thirds majority is secured to elect him.” This would put an end to the disruption of sessions due to the inability to secure the required quorum.
However, the opposition accuses the Amal-Hezbollah alliance of “using dialogue as a pretext to eventually elect their candidate,” Sleiman Frangieh, the head of the Marada party.
Berri also stressed the urgent need to elect a president so that he may lead the Lebanese delegation in case of a new political map for the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday, Berri explained his rejection of the idea of MP consultation “with whomever is in attendance” and supported “an inclusive dialogue under the exceptional circumstances that Lebanon is going through.”
Berri emphasized that the only option is consultation or dialogue, adding that it is possible to fill the vacancy within ten days.
The parliament speaker pointed out the urgent need for cooperation to “unite the country” and asked, “What harm is there in dialogue or consultation?”
Of note, the last electoral session convened by Speaker Nabih Berri was on June 13, 2023.
In the same interview, Berri emphasized that there are no preconditions for consultation. “If we agree on a consensus candidate, he will be warmly welcomed and supported by us. Otherwise, we will go to Parliament with a list of candidates from which MPs will choose the president in consecutive parliamentary sessions with multiple electoral rounds, provided that a two-thirds majority is secured to elect him.” This would put an end to the disruption of sessions due to the inability to secure the required quorum.
However, the opposition accuses the Amal-Hezbollah alliance of “using dialogue as a pretext to eventually elect their candidate,” Sleiman Frangieh, the head of the Marada party.
Berri also stressed the urgent need to elect a president so that he may lead the Lebanese delegation in case of a new political map for the Middle East.
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