Suleiman Calls for Fighting Election Bribes, “Whoever Wins, Wins”
President Michel Suleiman called for fighting election bribes and urged the media to launch journalism ethics that would safeguard the freedom of speech.
Suleiman”s remarks came during a midnight inspection tour of the premises the interior ministry will be using to monitor parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7.
Accompanying him on his tour were Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Saniora and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.
Suleiman”s visit also came minutes before the deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers.
Baroud officially announced that the number of candidates running in the 2009 elections stood at 702.
The deadline for withdrawing candidacies is April 21.
Holding elections in a single day is "a fundamental test not only for security forces, but also for political parties and blocs," Suleiman said.
"A free candidate is an independent thinker who does not fall into temptation or bribe or ugly intimidation," he added.
"This is a democratic race. We want competitive elections. Whoever wins, wins. And let us accept the results in the spirit of sportsmanship," Suleiman concluded.