Geagea Concerned Rival Camp May be Seeking 'New System'
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has expressed concern that the rival Hizbullah-led coalition could be seeking a new political system in the country through its approach towards the stalled presidential vote, noting that the Sunni community in Lebanon is acting “under the pressure” of Hizbullah's fighting in Syria.
“Unfortunately, I don't see presidential elections in the foreseeable future,” Geagea said in an interview.
“We are now waiting,” the LF leader added.
The parliament has failed to elect a new president despite having held 15 electoral sessions since April 23 due to a sharp political rift between the rival camps.
The March 14 forces have been accusing the March 8 camp of impeding the election through its boycott of the sessions.
“We can hold the presidential vote despite the presence of a crisis in the region should one of these two blocs change its stance,” Geagea added, referring to the parliamentary blocs of Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement.
“The issue is now more complicated than extension or no extension” of parliament's term, Geagea said, warning that “some parties' attempt to push the country towards total constitutional vacuum could be aimed at paving the way for a new (political) system, which is something we totally oppose in the current circumstances.”
The LF leader expressed his willingness to engage in talks with the rival parties “if the other camp is ready to discuss the name of a third presidential candidate.”
“In this case, I would withdraw my nomination,” he added.
He said he and rival candidate FPM leader MP Michel Aoun must seek an “understanding” over a consensual nominee because none of them is “convinced” of the other's candidacy.
“Choosing the name of the third candidate will not be a problem,” Geagea added.
Separately, Geagea pointed out that “Hizbullah's (military) role in Syria is putting the Sunni community in Lebanon under a big pressure,” while reassuring that “none of the main parties, even our rivals, has the intention to make a civil war in Lebanon.”
“The Sunni community in Lebanon is under a great pressure due to Hizbullah's fighting in Syria and due to the fact that the Lebanese army deals with Hizbullah in a manner that is different from the way it deals with the rest of the Lebanese,” Geagea added.
“You are fighting the Sunnis in Syria while asking the Sunnis in Lebanon to fend off sedition. You cannot make steps that lead to sedition while urging night and day that it must be avoided,” Geagea went on to say, addressing Hizbullah.
Y.R.
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