Diverging Positions among March 14 Leaders on Berri”s Reelection
Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel said Tuesday March 14 forces were not in full agreement on the reelection of Nabih Berri as parliament speaker and added a final decision will be made after deliberations.
"There is no consensus over the subject among March 14 forces. There are reservations and our position is clear," Gemayel said, reiterating demands for a rotation of power in constitutional establishments.
"We also have objections to Berri”s past positions be that on the personal level when he considered the previous government as illegitimate or (in his capacity as speaker) when he closed parliament and hindered the presidential election," Gemayel said.
Gemayel again said Sunday”s policy speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "directly threatened peace in the Middle East … and the dangers that will result from it will impact Lebanon through the threat of (Palestinian) settlement."
He said such threats can only be confronted by "bolstering the home front and by ensuring that the state is the authority in control of all sovereign decisions."
On another level, Gemayel declined to comment on MP Michel Murr”s decision to contest election results in the northern Metn.
"There are a number of baffling matters that need reviewing in relations to the Metn elections. It is preferable not to approach the subject until all the details have been examined," he added.