Signs of Electing Suleiman Today without Constitutional Amendment

Hasty developments over the past few hours raised hopes for an end to the political crisis by electing Gen. Michel Suleiman on Monday without having to amend the constitution.

 

A high-ranking source with the March 14 forces said a new formula has been in the works since the late evening hours which calls for convening a parliamentary session on Monday to give explanation so that the constitutional case for term limits related to the presidency is considered null due to the presidential vacuum and therefore there is no need for a constitutional amendment.

 

The Voice of Lebanon radio station on Monday said there was a “serious attempt” to apply Articles 75 and 76 of the constitution which allow the election to proceed without having to amend the constitution and without having to engage into dialogue with Gen. Michel Aoun over a “political basket.”

 

However, the possibility of achieving presidential election on Monday remains in limbo, awaiting response from the Hizbullah-led opposition.