Report: March 14 to Hold Intense Talks on Presidential Polls as Riyadh Keen to Hold them on Time
The March 14 alliance is expected to hold intense consultations on the presidential elections over the upcoming 48 hours in light of the failure of the second round of the polls on Wednesday, reported An Nahar daily on Thursday.
The consultations will include talks among the main leaders of the camp as Saudi Arabia expressed its keenness to hold the polls on time, said As Safir newspaper on Thursday.
Widely-informed Saudi diplomatic sources told the daily that Riyadh encourages any efforts to reach a consensual president, who would enjoy the support of the majority of the Lebanese people.
It does not advocate a provocative candidate, they added.
“The Lebanese people should reach an understanding among themselves over a new president. We will then bless their choice,” they continued.
“No one expects Saudi Arabia to name a presidential candidate,” stated the sources to As Safir.
The March 14 consultations meanwhile will stress the priority of Christian understanding over a presidential candidate, which will then be followed by Muslim understanding, reported An Nahar.
The alliance also demanded that the yet undeclared March 8 camp candidate for the polls refuse to succumb to the influence of Hizbullah's arms.
Lawmakers once again failed on Wednesday to elect a new president as differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances led to a lack of quorum in the second parliamentary session aimed at choosing a new head of state.
While the March 14 camp held onto its candidate Lebanese Forces leader Geagea, the Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance, except for Speaker Nabih Berri's Development and Liberation bloc, boycotted the second round of the elections over lack of consensus on one candidate.
Berri set May 7 for a third round of voting.
M.T.
S.D.B.
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