Bassil Meets al-Rahi, Warns against 'Breaking Christian Will' in Presidential Issue

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil warned Wednesday against what he called “breaking the will of Christians” in the issue of the presidential election, cautioning that such a step would affect Christian representation in all other state institutions and administrations.

“When there is a flaw in the presidency, it would affect all other state institutions, administrations and posts,” said Bassil after meeting Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki.

“We must harmonize between respect for the Constitution and respect for the National Pact,” he added.

The 1943 National Pact is an unwritten agreement that set the basis for the political system in the country, which is based on sectarian distribution of power.

“We cannot live without national equality in Lebanon, which is necessary to resolve our problems in the administration and in terms of balanced development and politics in the country,” Bassil said.

“The fastest way to achieve that is Christian unity, which is the path towards national unity,” he added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended on May 25, 2014 and the FPM, Hizbullah and some of their allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions.

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri launched late in 2015 a proposal to nominate Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency but his suggestion was rejected by the country's main Christian parties as well as Hizbullah.

The Hizbullah-led March 8 camp, as well as March 14's Lebanese Forces, have argued that FPM founder MP Michel Aoun is more eligible than Franjieh to become president given the size of his parliamentary bloc and his influence in the Christian community.

Y.R.

M.T.