Berri Says he Has No Candidate, his Role is Limited to Overseeing Successful Polls

Speaker Nabih Berri denied that a three-member committee from his parliamentary bloc will inquire the political parties on their presidential candidate, saying he did not have any preferred candidate so far.

In remarks to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Thursday, Berri said the committee, which is made up of MPs Ali Osseiran, Michel Moussa and Yassine Jaber, will discuss with the representatives of parties the appropriate atmosphere to have a quorum in the parliamentary session to elect a new president.

Berri formed last week the committee, whose members said Wednesday that their mission is limited to seeking the opinion of the different parties on the polls, including the qualities of the president they'd like to see at Baabda Palace.

The decision to name a candidate is up to the parliamentary blocs and lawmakers and is not part of the job of the committee, Berri told al-Akhbar.

He stressed that his role is limited so far to calling for a legislative session as part of the deadline set by the Constitution. “Of course that will be before May 15,” the speaker, who is also the head of the Amal movement, said.

President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ends in May but the Constitution states that the parliament should start meeting March 25 to elect a new head of state.

No one has yet officially announced his candidacy for the top post. But there are several contenders from the rival March 8 and 14 camps.

“My role as a speaker is limited to the constitutional mechanism to elect the president and … guaranteeing the appropriate circumstances to hold the session,” Berri said.

He also held onto his “final and conclusive stance” that there should be a two-thirds majority in the two electoral rounds to have a quorum.

A candidate should receive a two-thirds of votes to win in the first round and half-plus-one or 65 votes of the 128-member parliament to win in the second round, he said.