Presidential Elections Delayed to Oct. 21 as Harb Laments 'Postponement Farce'
The presidential elections were postponed for the 29th time on Wednesday after a lack of quorum at parliament.
Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled the next session for October 21.
Following the meeting, Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb deemed the ongoing postponement of the polls as a “farce”.
He condemned linking the elections to regional developments, saying that the ongoing vacuum is an “insult” to the Lebanese people.
The minister stressed that the election of a head of state should be a top priority for officials, adding that he will propose it during the next national dialogue session.
Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora later stated from parliament: “We should elect a president who enjoys the support of the rival political camps.”
“We have stated at the national dialogue that we cannot resolve any issue without the election of a president and Berri agrees with us,” he added.
Settlements are a part of politics on condition that they respect the constitution, he continued.
“It is time that we return to respecting the constitution,” demanded the MP.
“Resolving problems should take part through communication, not boycotts,” stressed Saniora.
“There can be no substitute to dialogue. We will continue on communicating with rival parties until we reach an agreement,” he remarked.
This will ensure that Lebanon's system and constitution are respected, he added.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of successor.
Numerous electoral sessions have been scheduled, all but one were postponed over a lack of quorum.
Disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
There are several candidates but none of them is willing to make compromises that would allow lawmakers to attend a session aimed at electing a head of state.
The presidential vacuum has hindered the government's ability to tackle growing security, economic and social problems.
M.T.
G.K.
9 years
That's just great... more delays mean more delays in the garbage crisis. Which means more delays in the power and water shortage. Which means that more inside deals are trying to be made which means that the same 128 members will continue extending their residence in the parliament which means no solution to lebanon... which means more regression and more migration... which mean either revolt or die while waiting.
9 years
Michel Aoun is slowly killing this country... and the Christians above all...
9 years
slowly?
9 years
yes Eagle... since his "return"... he has been working against the interest of his people, against the interest of the Christians in particular... he widens the divisions, blocks the institutions, defends the Syrian regime, allies with Ebola, imposes his feudal clan, blocks the parliament, blocks the Presidential elections, fails at every cabinet his people at entrusted with, etc... it's been 10 years... 10 years of crap from this man, and it is worsening by the day... tired about his own personal little ambitions for power!
9 years
Why call an electoral session with no intent to elect? There must be some reason to engage in this farcical act.
Blame Berri for not requiring members to attend.
Blame Jumblatt for his asinine nomination of Helou which creates a three man race where no one can win.
Blame Aoun for not agreeing to submit to multiple ballots.
Most of all, Blame Hezbollah who makes sure that all of the sticks stay firmly in the wheel and the government stays paralyzed.
And the rest of the sorry Lebanese political class who are all waiting for a telephone call from their financial backers that the time has come to restart the Lebanese Government. They can't do this for themselves.
9 years
"And the rest of the sorry Lebanese political class who are all waiting for a telephone call from their financial backers that the time has come to restart the Lebanese Government. They can't do this for themselves." I think that covers the Future Movement, Tex.
You just don't get it, do you, its not one party or the other to blame. No one is without fault. The whole sorry political class is at fault and is to blame for this. To say otherwise is to exonerate some of those or all of those who should be held to account to the people for what they are doing to the country.
9 years
Love FPM and hate Future, love Future and hate Marada. All of this type of BS thinking is what has the country in a knot. All Lebanese should all join together and recognize that the fault they find in the "other" is present in whatever party they have adhered to and probably X10.
So yes, Future too, they are waiting on KSA to tell them what to do, just like Aoun is waiting for Nasrallah who waits for Khomanie and Berri who waits on his patron and Frangieh his, and Gemayel his and so on. The whole bunch of them needs to be turned on by the people and turned out of their positions of supposed power.
9 years
Next meeting of the misleaders holds all the promise of a single raindrop putting out a forest fire. I would imagine that they could hold 100 elections and never reach a consensus on whose pockets are next to be lined.
9 years
Not a farce, it is pure suicide.
Every politician (Aoun excluded) must boycott any dialogue that does not tackle presidential issue FIRST. Elect one with or without majority and let Aoun does (f---) what he can.
9 years
Any Christian who still supports the Caporal is a traitor.
it is KSA's fault no president is elected because they are forcing their allies to go down to parliament.