Change and Reform: Powerful President Derives his Strength from his Political Representation

The Change and Reform bloc noted on Tuesday that the president of the republic should derive his strength from within himself, which will help him advance in Lebanon.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan said after the bloc's weekly meeting: “The president also derives his strength from his political representation.”

He reiterated the need to elect a strong president and the Change and Reform bloc's rejection of the extension of President Michel Suleiman's term.

Suleiman stated on Sunday that a strong leader is one that liberates himself from parliamentary alliances.

“A strong president acquires power by not being affiliated with a parliamentary bloc,” he said on Twitter.

He added: “What makes a leader strong is being free from any alliance that threatens an independent, balance and sovereign decision the president can take.”

Addressing the Change and Reform bloc's dialogue proposal, Kanaan remarked: “We have heard a lot of speculation about it. We took the initiative to hold talks with all parliamentary blocs.”

It is scheduled to hold talks with the Mustaqbal bloc on Thursday.

“All sides should agree on how to fortify Lebanon,” he declared.

“An agreement should be reached to avoid fragmenting the state. Lebanon's fate should no longer be linked to Syria. What if the situation there lasted for years? What will we do then?” he wondered.