Lebanon set to delay presidential vote again

 

Both government and opposition MPs said Sunday that they expect Lebanon”s oft-postponed presidential vote, scheduled to take place in Parliament on Tuesday, to be delayed for a 16th time. The country has been without a head of state since Emile Lahoud stepped down at the end of his term, extended under Syrian pressure in 2004, at midnight on November 23. 

 

“Tuesday”s session, like all previous sessions that were scheduled, will be delayed,” opposition Hizbullah MP Hassan Hoballah told AFP.

 

MP Wael Bou Faour of the ruling March 14 Forces coalition made a similar prediction – and accused the opposition of blocking a solution, especially mediation by Arab League chief Amr Moussa, under orders from Damascus.

 

“The election is tied to a political agreement. I do not expect a session on Tuesday because the same obstacles remain,” he said.  “The Syrian regime is increasing its demands as occurred with Amr Moussa during his recent visit.

 

“There are efforts under way from an Arab party,” the legislator added, “but until now it is still impossible.”

Moussa has made several trips to Lebanon to try to break the impasse between the majority, backed by the West and most Arab states, and the opposition, backed by Syria and Iran. 

 

His efforts have failed thus far, although the Arab initiative is still on the table.

 

Local press reports on Saturday said Moussa was not planning to visit Beirut again any time soon.

 

But Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Fatfat said there was a slight chance Lebanon would elect a president on March 25. He told The Daily Star Sunday that his prediction was not based on his own personal analysis.

“It is more than that. It is based on information” from sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri, Fatfat said.

 

The speaker”s media adviser, Ali Hamdan, was less optimistic.

 

“We wish Fatfat”s prophecy would come true,” Hamdan told The Daily Star.