Report: Rahi Proposed One-Year Extension of Suleiman's Term

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Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has suggested the one-year extension of President Michel Suleiman's six-year tenure, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Al-Rahi made his proposal during talks with al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri in Paris last week, the daily said.

But Hariri expressed surprise at the patriarch's proposal, it added.

Al-Akhbar reiterated that the patriarch has suggested the names of former Ministers Ziad Baroud, Deminaos Qattar and Roger Deeb as possible consensus candidates for the presidency.

The report came despite repeated denials by al-Rahi that he backed a certain candidate for the country's top Christian post, which faces vacuum after May 25 if MPs failed to elect a new head of state.

Parliament was unable in the first and second rounds of the elections from electing a new president due to differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances.

A new round is set to take place this Wednesday although it is almost certain that the parliamentary session would face the same fate of its predecessors due to the boycott of March 8 lawmakers.

Comments 14
Thumb ibinherathreik almost 10 years

listen to flamerintayeh's favorite ignorant politician lolll too funny
رأى عضو كتلة الوفاء للمقاومة النائب عاصم قانصوه ان زيارة البطريرك الكاردينال بشارة الراعي للقدس وان كانت تحت عنوان «مرافقة البابا في زيارة راعوية»، الا انها ستشكل سابقة غير مستحبة وستترك تداعياتها على الساحة السياسية في لبنان وسائر العالم العربي، وذلك لاعتباره ان الكيان الصهيوني سيسارع الى استغلالها اعلاميا ودوليا ويعتبرها خطوة اولى وجبارة من رأس الكنيسة المارونية باتجاه التطبيع والاعتراف بالدولة اليهودية، متسائلا بالتالي ما اذا كانت خلفية الزيارة لدعم التيار الوطني الحر وفتح قنوات غير مباشرة مع العدو الاسرائيلي، والا فلماذا اصراره على مرافقة البابا في وقت تتعرض فيه القدس وتحديدا كنيستي المهد والقيامة الى ابشع انواع التعنت الاسرائيلي؟

Thumb ibinherathreik almost 10 years

وذكر النائب قانصوه في تصريح لـ «الأنباء» ان البطريرك السابق الكاردينال نصرالله صفير لم يقدم وهو في اوج قوته ودعمه لقوى 14 آذار ومواجهته للنظام السوري على اتخاذ خطوة مماثلة، لا بل تمنّع عن ملاقاة البابا الراحل يوحنا بولس الثاني سواء الى القدس ام الى سورية كي لا تعطى زيارته ابعادا سياسية لبنان واللبنانيين في غنى عنها، معتبرا بالتالي ان البطريرك الراعي مسؤول عن المستقبل السياسي للمسيحيين في فلسطين الذين هم في غنى عن اختلاق مادة توتر العلاقة بينهم وبين المسلمين شركائهم في النضال ضد الاحتلال الصهيوني، متمنيا على الراعي ان يتراجع عن زيارته للقدس والتي سترتد سلبا على مسيحيي انطاكيا وسائر المشرق عموما وعلى مسيحيي سورية خصوصا، كونها ستعطي داعش والنصرة ذريعة لتكثيف هجماتهما البربرية والحاقدة ضدهم.

Thumb ibinherathreik almost 10 years

once again farsi news source alakhbar lolll

Thumb ex-fpm almost 10 years

any suggestions fake karim?

Default-user-icon Kazan (Guest) almost 10 years

One year extension means another year avoiding and running away from the reality; and the reality is that Lebanon has 2 societies of completely different culture and values that are impossible to merge;Solution? yes 2 different countries.

Thumb FlameCatcher almost 10 years

In theory, Suleiman should be extended until a new parliament is formed ! A parliament that is representative of the new political equation and their followers !

Thumb EagleDawn almost 10 years

can you tell us fake australian who claims he does not read or write arabic, he never lived in Lebanon, he is australian second generation how come you are so interested in lebanese politics mr. mowaten aka crusher?

Thumb -phoenix1 almost 10 years

I am fully with His Eminence's proposal and would even go beyond, let president Suleiamn's term be extended for another 3 years instead of one. By the looks of it, it is clear that the classic foot-dragging procedure has started and the aim is even more clear, create another consitutional void in anticipation of the developments in Syria. Given Suleiman's irreproachable performance and wisdom, it will be a lot safer for everyone of us to have him around, until the fog that is clouding our political scene lifts up.

Thumb -phoenix1 almost 10 years

Hi Roar, you're right. Remember when I mention about Camel Caravans, dung and the flies that must follow? Well, Mama Bani Maarouf and her little kids like Alfinik in this case keeps proving the theory right, time after time. But to tell you the truth, the sagging Mama is doing everything to keep us away from this forum, well? Pure waste of time from her. Now see how her loyal boyfriends will barge in to protect her, old trade, tsk.

Thumb FlameCatcher almost 10 years

Seems Roar has an "urge" to fill and is jealous of others because no male is interested in him. It's simply too bad Nasrallah sent his All-Star male Harem to Syria leaving you with nothing but second rate Hezbollah members to jerk off.

I don't see an problem with you, Icey or anyone having a penchant for male genitalia.

I just have a problem with seeing how relevant this is to the debate !

This shows you are bankrupt of arguments PURR ! now please go play with Toy Guns and learn how to fight for the glory hole of Nasrallah !

Thumb eli-g almost 10 years

I say six more years is a better option during of which he can facilitate peace with Israel and pull Lebanon out of its misery. I know its just a dream but stranger things have happened in Lebanon.

Thumb beiruti almost 10 years

Patriarch's role in this whole Presidential Succession affair is becoming quite muddled. First he says he has no candidate before suggesting his list, then he says we have to have an election on time before suggesting an extension of Sulieman's mandate. This is wishy washy. If he is to get involved, do so with a strong hand. Make sound decisions and stick to them.
Meouchi would have done that, but Rahi prefers to conduct delicate diplomacy in public, rather than privately where he can be more effective.

Thumb beiruti almost 10 years

The Maronite Christian Political class are acting like a bunch of spoiled children who get only worse by their doting parents who are abdicating their authority to properly raise the children and instead of become enablers of their obstinacy. Rahi has not done all that he could, like say, excommunicate someone, ban them from their status as Maronites for acting against the will of the Patriarch which comes from the Pope. If one is not a Maronite, then they cannot become President in Lebanon. Patriarch holds this stick, but he has spared the rod, and thus spoiled the child.

Thumb cedre almost 10 years

HA, Aoun, Marada, etc will refuse. It's against their plan for Lebanon.

http://youtu.be/A7PYji0NZ74