Sleiman encourages formation of bloc to serve national interests in Parliament
President Michel Sleiman said on Thursday that he was not planning to form a parliamentary bloc of his own in next year”s parliamentary elections, but he would not mind seeing the formation of an independent bloc that gives priority to national interests.
"I am not looking for a parliamentary bloc, but I will not stand in the [way] of candidates who decide to run independently with the aim of forming a national bloc that gives priority to national interests," he told a delegation of Lebanese University graduates.
"These candidates need not be close to the president in any sense … All they need to do is side with their country," Sleiman added.
The president also assured the delegation that the elections would be held on time.
Sleiman”s possible backing of some candidates in next year”s elections could have a great effect on election results in predominantly Christian electoral constituencies.
He also told his visitors that reconciliation efforts in the country were making progress "despite some difficulties."
Sleiman confirmed that the second round of national dialogue would be at the Presidential Palace on November 5, adding that expanding participants depended on the approval of the parties that attended the first dialogue session in mid-September.
He was referring to the 14 politicians who signed last May”s Doha Agreement.
Sleiman received Premier Fouad Siniora at the palace later on Thursday.
Siniora said afterward that he was ready to cooperate with Deputy Premier Issam Abu Jamra, who has threatened to boycott Cabinet sessions unless his bid to increase the powers of his office is taken seriously.
"Abu Jamra is an added value for the government and I am willing to cooperate with him within constitutional limits," Siniora said.
Asked if he expected Abu Jamra to boycott next week”s session, Siniora said such a move would be a clear violation of Doha. Rival parties agreed in the Qatari capital not to take any measure that paralyzes the government or reflects negatively on its performance.
Earlier Thursday, Siniora met Abu Jamra and Minister of State for Administrative Development Ibrahim Shamseddine.
Abu Jamra told reporters after the meeting that his withdrawal from Tuesday”s Cabinet session did not necessarily mean he was planning to boycott the coming sessions.
"Withdrawing from a session is not the same as boycotting all Cabinet sessions," he said, adding that his meeting with Siniora at the Grand Serail had been mediated by Shamseddine.
Abu Jamra left the Cabinet meeting Tuesday because his proposal to boost his powers was not discussed. He argued that his proposal was being ignored.
But Abu jamra told reporters after Thursday”s meeting that he had exchanged views with Siniora "and we will continue our discussions tomorrow."
Shamseddine also said Siniora was open and serious throughout the meeting.
Also Thursday, former President Amin Gemayel said after meeting UN special envoy Michael Williams that it was not the best time to discuss amending the deputy premier”s privileges.
"I am not against discussing such privileges … Even the president”s privileges need to be discussed, but this is neither the right time nor the right approach," Gemayel said.
"We should get done with the parliamentary elections first before looking into amending our Constitution," he added.
Commenting on the efforts to reconcile rival Christian leaders, Gemayel said the parties that are supposed to reconcile were not securing the desired atmosphere for such reconciliation to take place.
"We hear them speak of wanting reconciliation, but their political rhetoric does not serve this aim," he said.
"As far as the Phalange Party is concerned, we have good relations with all other parties despite political differences … yet we are ready to do all that is necessary to facilitate reconciliation wherever needed," he added.
Gemayel told Williams that the Phalange Party had some fresh ideas to help resolve the issue of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms.
Also on Thursday, news reports quoted Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh as saying Geagea should quit politics after reconciling with his rivals, further underlining the unlikelihood of reconciliation talks between the two leaders.
An unidentified member of the Maronite League, which is mediating between the rival leaders, reportedly told Al-Akhbar newspaper that Franjieh”s supporters were still not ready to "forgive" Geagea for his role in the Ehden massacre of 1978.
The 1978 slaying of Franjieh”s family was blamed on the Phalange Party, when Geagea was a fighter in its ranks.
Geagea has admitted that he was among the "military squad" that was in charge of the operation, but he denies taking part in the massacre, arguing that he was shot before making it to the family”s residence.
In a related statement, Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra said on Thursday that Franjieh”s "refusal" to reconcile with Geagea was related to next year”s elections.
"Franjieh wants to keep for himself the privilege of attacking Geagea during the elections," Zahra added.