The Lebanese Forces (LF) have urged Speaker Nabih Berri to shoulder his constitutional responsibilities by convening a parliamentary session as soon as possible and keep it open until a new a president of the republic is elected.
“We urge you once again to convene an electoral session at the earliest possible time regardless of who would win or lose… that’s the way it is done,” the LF press office said in a statement issued on May 16.
“You have called for several sessions with the alledged aim of electing a president, but your MPs and your allies did nothing but constantly sabotage them.”
Berri, the leader of the Shiite Amal Movement, and his ally, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, have been lobbying for the election of Marada Movement Leader Sleiman Frangieh, a candidate who is utterly rejected by the opposing camp as a provocative and confrontational figure.
Frangieh, a close personal friend of Syrian President Bashar Assad, is opposed by the two main Christian parties, the LF and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Gebran Bassil, in addition to the Kataeb party and the Renewal Bloc.
The LF statement further criticized Berri and accused him of failing to fulfill his constitutional duties while overstepping his powers by considering himself to be responsible for the opposition.
“Rest assured, Mr. Speaker, the opposition can handle its own affairs and is ready to take part in the presidential elections at any time… But you have refrained from convening new electoral sessions because the current situation bodes ill for your candidate,” the LF statement added.
Parliament has held 11 sessions, the last in January, to elect a new head of state since Michel Aoun’s six-year mandate had expired on October 31 last year. Sessions have been constantly adjourned due to the lack of quorum.
A two-thirds majority is required in the first round to win the race to be president in the 128-seat parliament. Subsequent rounds in the same session need only an absolute majority — or 65 votes.
