Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper pointed out that at a time when the debate is still raging between the Lebanese parties over the quorum for the second round to elect a president of the republic, the position of the Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi came as an embarrassment to those who defend the quorum of two-thirds, led by the Christian parties, represented by the The Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement, which intersects with the position of the Hezbollah team and its allies, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who has the final say in running the election sessions.
In this context, MP Elias Hanakash told Asharq Al-Awsat, “We have always talked about this issue, relying on the constitution, which is what we discussed in Parliament with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who did not give us a constitutional answer on any article he relied on to move to the second session.” According to the two-thirds quorum, which in turn turned into an excuse to disrupt the sessions.
Regarding the importance of the shepherd’s position, Hanakash said: “They cannot be more royal than the king, neither the Christian parties that increased us by a two-thirds quorum, nor the speaker of parliament. The shepherd spoke about this issue, and he is the main concern and keen on the position of the president, in addition to, of course, all the Lebanese.”
From here, Hanakish recounted that “the other Christian parties represented in parliament, specifically (the forces) and (the current), were embarrassed by Bkerke’s position, which came to strengthen our position, give it more impetus, and overthrow the second positions that were issued in the election session.”
Hankash emphasized at the same time that the “brigades” demand for a two-thirds quorum does not mean what Berri talked about in the penultimate session, with the possibility of electing a president with thirty votes, explaining: “When we demand to keep the second session open, adopting a quorum of half plus one does not mean electing a president.” thirty votes, but the election by the majority of votes as well.
On the other hand, the “forces” sources refused to consider Bkerki’s position as contrary to their position, although Representative George Adwan was clear in the penultimate session by announcing his support for a two-thirds quorum. The “forces” are also keen to respond within the general framework, considering that the sponsor’s goal is to pressure the parliamentary blocs and the speaker of parliament.
The sources said: “The sponsor’s position does not contradict our position during which we call for keeping the election sessions open, and we consider that every issue of the quorum is void, and the deputies must attend the sessions and remain in the parliament until the election of a president at a time when some use the constitution as a means of obstruction.”
For its part, parliamentary sources in Berri’s bloc refused to respond or comment on Al-Rahi’s position, and called for waiting for next Thursday’s session, and how the Speaker of Parliament will approach Al-Rahi’s proposal.
Berri’s sources stressed that “the solution remains by consensus on electing a president of the republic,” and contented themselves with saying: “The custom that al-Rahi called for breaking meets and does not conflict with the constitution, since 1926, that is, before and after the Taef Agreement. The elections for the president were based on a two-thirds quorum.” She asked, “If the constitution needs a two-thirds quorum to amend it, how can the president be elected with less than two-thirds?”
