Maronite Bishop Bechara Rahi: Aoun is being used as a tool by the opposition

 

Maronite Bishop Bechara Rahi said that Syria is still trying to return to Lebanon and noted its role in obstructing the presidential elections.

Rahi criticized Speaker Nabih Berri for ‘closing the parliament’s door.’ “Everyone knows that Berri is not free in taking decisions,” he said.

He also denounced the opposition’s attempts to implicate the Christians in the Sunni-Shia struggle through naming MP Michel Aoun as its negotiator with the pro-government party.

“Aoun is being used as a tool by the opposition,” Rahi told the Kuwaiti daily Al-Ray.

“His proposal aimed at reconsidering the president’s authorities as stipulated in the Taef Agreement was strongly denounced and criticized by factions of the opposition,” he added.

Rahi reiterated the Church’s rejection to prior-conditions ahead of the election of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as president.

He also noted that a simple majority elected president likewise the presidential vacuum is a problem.

“We do not support this choice for it will drive Lebanon into additional problems,” Rahi added.