Sectarian disputes intensified in the Lebanese parliament, hours before a scheduled session to elect a president on Wednesday.
Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan accused those who support the candidacy of former minister Jihad Azour, of “isolating” the resistance that “guarantees Lebanon’s sovereignty”, in reference to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, which back the candidacy of Sleiman Frangieh.
US Under-Secretary of State Victoria Nuland contacted on Tuesday Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, calling for the election of a president without any obstacles.
Informed parliamentary sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US official emphasized the need to elect a head of state “as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, the opposition blocs renewed their support for Azour, and called on all moderates to vote in favor of the former minister and “break the dominance of the Shiite duo” (Hezbollah and the Amal movement).
In a statement, the Lebanese Forces’ Strong Republic parliamentary bloc said Wednesday’s session should lead to the election of a new president, warning that obstructing the vote would have negative financial and political repercussions.
The bloc condemned “the intimidating speech by some political forces that want to impose their candidate, contrary to the parliamentary balance of power, and talk about a conspiracy and isolation, while the conspiracy lies in obstructing the presidential elections and striking stability and order.”
Following a meeting of its political bureau, the Kataeb party rejected accusations of treason launched by the Jaafari mufti.
“This systematic campaign refutes all talk of partnership and participation and confirms that the militia logic that controlled the country in the past years has not changed, and that all calls for dialogue were fake,” the party said in a statement.
Similarly, MPs Marc Daou, Michel Douaihi and Waddah Sadek, along with the Taqadum party and a number of independent forces, expressed their support to Azour, saying that it was time to confront the “logic of domination and obstruction.”
