Suleiman: One-Day Polls Are Possible if There Is Political Will
President Michel Suleiman said Tuesday he had faith that Lebanon can hold one-day elections provided "there is a will among the parties and I believe there is."
He warned that the elections would lose "their democratic nature if (their success) was conditioned with the mobilization of 200,000 security agents."
He told a delegation from the press syndicate "should there be an intention to sabotage (the polls) the army will assume control of the situations. But then the elections will be disrupted."
Suleiman said he believed "there is a serious will among parties to see the elections take place." "When some 120 deputies approve the current (electoral) law, any attempt for change … becomes more difficult," Suleiman added.
"Before taking any step forward, it is necessary to know whether or not the Interior Ministry is capable of implementing the new law once issued. It is also important to know the position of the main parliamentary blocs," he added.
On the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Suleiman said the fate of four generals – detained on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri – is "left for the judiciary. I can only handle this file in my capacity as president."
Asked on Wednesday”s meeting between Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Fouad Saniora in the presidential palace, Suleiman said the main goal of this encounter was to reach a decision on the state budget.
Berri and Saniora have been locked in a war of words over the handling of the Council of the South file.