Geagea Criticizes Presidential Elections Delay, Proposes 3 Dialogue Approaches
13 حزيران 2024 14:35
Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea issued the following statement:
"Today marks one year since the last presidential election session called forth by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The reason no further sessions have been called, according to Berri, is the anticipation of a dialogue. However, all possible dialogues among parliamentary blocs have been exhausted without reaching a consensus candidate due to the opposition's insistence on their nominee, former MP Sleiman Frangieh. Meanwhile, other groups, including the opposition, change advocates, and independents, have expressed their desire to search for a third candidate.
What is even more troubling is that, regarding the dialogue they hide behind to prevent the presidential elections from proceeding properly, the Lebanese Forces proposed three consultative approaches to French Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian during his recent visit to Lebanon and are still awaiting responses.
The three approaches, which ensure serious and effective dialogue without violating the constitution and principles, are as follows:
First, implement the National Moderation Bloc's initiative by having the bloc invite other parliamentary blocs to convene and send representatives to meet in the Parliament for a full day, if necessary, to discuss the presidential election. Subsequently, Speaker Berri should call for an electoral session with multiple rounds until a president is elected.
Second, have Mr. Le Drian come to Lebanon and ask the House Speaker to meet with representatives from all parliamentary blocs. The Parliament's General Secretariat would invite all blocs to meet with Le Drian, who would then present a summary of his extensive discussions with officials, parties, and parliamentary blocs. Afterward, Le Drian would step aside, allowing the bloc representatives to continue their consultations for a full day, if necessary. Speaker Berri would then call for an open electoral session with multiple rounds until a president is elected.
Third, Speaker Berri should call for an electoral session as stipulated by the constitution. After the first round, if no president is elected, Speaker Berri should adjourn the session for one or two hours, allowing the blocs to consult before reconvening for subsequent rounds until a president is elected.
We proposed these approaches, knowing well that the issue is not about dialogue but about obstructing the elections until the opposition can gather all its resources to elect their presidential candidate. We adopted these approaches because they do not conflict with the constitution and simultaneously provide the dialogue demanded by the other side, which has never been a genuine proponent of dialogue, as evidenced by experiences since 2006. However, we adopted them to facilitate the presidential election without violating the constitution, and we are still awaiting responses from the other side regarding these three proposed approaches in their alleged dialogue."
"Today marks one year since the last presidential election session called forth by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. The reason no further sessions have been called, according to Berri, is the anticipation of a dialogue. However, all possible dialogues among parliamentary blocs have been exhausted without reaching a consensus candidate due to the opposition's insistence on their nominee, former MP Sleiman Frangieh. Meanwhile, other groups, including the opposition, change advocates, and independents, have expressed their desire to search for a third candidate.
What is even more troubling is that, regarding the dialogue they hide behind to prevent the presidential elections from proceeding properly, the Lebanese Forces proposed three consultative approaches to French Presidential Envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian during his recent visit to Lebanon and are still awaiting responses.
The three approaches, which ensure serious and effective dialogue without violating the constitution and principles, are as follows:
First, implement the National Moderation Bloc's initiative by having the bloc invite other parliamentary blocs to convene and send representatives to meet in the Parliament for a full day, if necessary, to discuss the presidential election. Subsequently, Speaker Berri should call for an electoral session with multiple rounds until a president is elected.
Second, have Mr. Le Drian come to Lebanon and ask the House Speaker to meet with representatives from all parliamentary blocs. The Parliament's General Secretariat would invite all blocs to meet with Le Drian, who would then present a summary of his extensive discussions with officials, parties, and parliamentary blocs. Afterward, Le Drian would step aside, allowing the bloc representatives to continue their consultations for a full day, if necessary. Speaker Berri would then call for an open electoral session with multiple rounds until a president is elected.
Third, Speaker Berri should call for an electoral session as stipulated by the constitution. After the first round, if no president is elected, Speaker Berri should adjourn the session for one or two hours, allowing the blocs to consult before reconvening for subsequent rounds until a president is elected.
We proposed these approaches, knowing well that the issue is not about dialogue but about obstructing the elections until the opposition can gather all its resources to elect their presidential candidate. We adopted these approaches because they do not conflict with the constitution and simultaneously provide the dialogue demanded by the other side, which has never been a genuine proponent of dialogue, as evidenced by experiences since 2006. However, we adopted them to facilitate the presidential election without violating the constitution, and we are still awaiting responses from the other side regarding these three proposed approaches in their alleged dialogue."