Report: Al-Rahi Urges Hizbullah to Convince Aoun to End Presidential Stalemate
Naharnet /03.01.15
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi reportedly asked Hizbullah to convince its ally Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to head to the parliament to elect a new head of state or withdraw from the presidential race and choose a compromise candidate that would be acceptable to all sides. According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Saturday, Hizbullah rejected al-Rahi’s request and informed him that the party backs Aoun’s candidacy until the end. Hizbullah’s response was reportedly conveyed by the party’s politburo chief Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed during his recent visit to Bkirki. Al-Sayyed reiterated after talks with al-Rahi last week Hizbullah’s staunch support for Aoun to reach the Baabda Palace. “Aoun is a competent person who is capable of playing a positive role if he was elected as a president and he can assume responsibilities amid the difficult situation” the country is passing through, al-Sayyed stressed.
The delegation met with al-Rahi to extend its greetings to him on the occasion of Christmas. Al-Joumhouria said that the hour and a half meeting between al-Rahi and Hizbullah’s delegation was held in away from media and popular spotlight. Lebanon’s presidential crisis has spilled over into parliament, which has failed to hold legislative sessions to elect a new head of state. The Lebanese parliament is tasked by the constitution to select a president, a decision that has already been put off more than a dozen times as the war in Syria continues to divide rival political blocs. Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea have announced their candidacies for the presidency. Their differences, in addition to the rivalry between the March 8 and 14 alliances, have left the presidential post vacant. The term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May.
