BEIRUT: Lebanon’s political and security problems cannot be contained in the absence of a president, Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Thursday, accusing Hezbollah and its ally the Free Patriotic Movement of aborting successive attempts to elect a head of state.
“More than three months have passed without a president, impacting our sovereignty, economy and political situation and placing the whole country in limbo,” Geagea told a news conference after Parliament failed to convene an electoral session for the 13th time.
The sessions have failed to reach quorum, with the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition boycotting until a consensus is reached on a new president.
“There is no matter more important than electing a president, without whom we cannot resolve any problem,” Geagea said, repeating calls for agreement on a compromise presidential candidate.
FPM chief MP Michel Aoun has yet to officially declare his candidacy but has previously said he was ready to be a compromise candidate, an option rejected by the March 14 bloc over his alliance with Hezbollah.
“We are ready to sit with the opposite camp to find a way out of the impasse if MP Michel Aoun acknowledges that he stands no chance to be elected, but he does not want [to find a solution],” said Geagea, the March 14 coalition's candidate.
Commenting on the issue of Lebanese servicemen held hostage by Syria militants, Geagea blasted the government for failing to take decisive action to end their ordeal.
“If a swap deal is not acceptable, the government should propose other alternatives to resolve the matter,” Geagea said, adding that one option could be Hezbollah’s withdrawal from Syria, “which does not inflict any cost on Lebanon,” or freeing the captives by force “despite the high risks it entails.”
Nusra Front and ISIS militants hold at least 21 Lebanese soldiers and policemen are reportedly seeking to swap their captives for Islamist inmates in Roumieh Prison.
Geagea also slammed Hezbollah over Tuesday’s bomb attack against an Israeli convoy in occupied Shebaa, which wounded two Israeli soldiers.
“The Shebaa bombing amounts to a full-fledged national treason. Hezbollah has no right to juggle with the fate of the Lebanese people,” Geagea said, fearing that such operations could prompt Israel to launch a new war on Lebanon.
“What is the point of igniting a new front when the Army is busy at the border from Akkar to Arsal,” Geagea asked, adding that “it is not Hezbollah’s job to fight against the enemy, which is the responsibility of the state uniquely.”
Lebanon’s top post has been vacant since May 25 when former President Michel Sleiman stepped down at the end of his six-year term, as politicians continue to squabble over a successor.
Disagreements among the main political players over a consensus candidate has led to over a dozen failed attempts by Parliament to elect a new head of state. The latest session to elect a president Thursday was postponed to Oct. 28.
No comments:
Post a Comment