Sfeir warns against boycotting session to elect new president
Beirut (AsiaNews) – The election of the new head of state “must go ahead, no-one should boycott the nation” and the newly elected leader must be at an equal distance from all political players, “should have a clean hand and a white heart and should unite all the people”. Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir has once again returned to the issue of the upcoming elections for a new head of state on September 25th, a fundamental appointment for the life of the country but one which is stirring anticipation and fear. It is a key role at a political and institutional level and influences greatly on deputy’s decisions, who will begin to meet on the 25th of this month.
In the nation’s political alchemy, the president of the republic is Maronite Christian, which explains the political party’s interest in the Patriarch and the pressure he is placed under. For his part, Card. Sfeir, recently returned from Rome, has denied ever having discussed the issue of elections with Benedict XVI and confirms that he has no intention of naming names. In this light, there is widespread anticipation ahead of this months meeting of the Maronite bishops, set for tomorrow, The prelates, moreover appear far from united in their choice of which party to support.
In fact, on the back of its parliamentary majority, the anti Syrian block led by Saad Hariri is ready to let the initial ballots go ahead, to wait for the moment in which an absolute majority is necessary. The opposition insists that the head of state is elected on a two thirds majority, which puts it in play. In the background there is the fear that the current president Emile Lahoud will exploit divisions in an attempt to stay in power, or that the nation will find itself with two presidents, a fact which may ignite the civil war which destroyed the nation over a 15 year period, between 1975 and 1990, ended by the Syrian occupation which continued a further 15 years.
What is further complicating matters in the current regional situation, and heightened political tensions ahead of the Bush peace conference and the clouds of war which are gathering over Iran. (PD)
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