March 14 Rejects Aoun”s “Unworkable” Conditions

 
The majority March 14 alliance rejected Gen. Michel Aoun”s “unworkable conditions” in which he linked a constitutional amendment — allowing the election of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman to the presidency — to a political accord.

 

Circles close to Prime Minister Fouad Saniora”s government and to March 14 said the ruling majority has taken a big step and proved its seriousness, adding that it was the opposition “now” that has to surmount the obstacles facing a constitutional amendment and, consequently, presidential elections.

 

Aoun”s stance was discussed at a ministerial meeting held at the Grand Serail late Tuesday.

 

Ministerial sources did not rule out the possibility that the Hizbullah-led opposition could be behind Aoun”s “negative trend” at the press conference he held in Rabiyeh Tuesday afternoon.

 

They said the conferees stressed at the Serail meeting that the majority was not willing to debate any issue before a president is elected.

 

The sources accused Aoun of blocking the constitution, saying his proposed conditions are “unworkable.”

“Aoun wants to know in advance who will the next prime minister be, before allowing the new president to hold the necessary consultations regarding this issue; and he wants an agreement on the electoral law prior to formation of the government which is supposed to debate the draft law before endorsing it and sending it to Parliament for approval,” one source explained.

 

Another source from March 14 said Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri appeared to be the only opposition leader who is for presidential elections, while there was no evidence of intent from the others.

 

Berri told the daily An Nahar late Tuesday that “things are moving in the right direction.”

 

Also Tuesday evening, Berri exchanged views on the constitutional amendment issue with MP Saad Hariri over the telephone.