Hezbollah resorts to blackmail before giving ok on president
Hezbollah, in its first response to the March 14 alliance formal nomination of Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman for president, said that the majority”s consent to amend the constitution is a “positive step”.
The daily al-Liwa quoted a senior Hezbollah official as saying that the ruling majority still needs to “contact Gen. (Michel) Aoun to discuss the political “package” that will specify the share of each party in the new government”.
Analysts told Ya Libnan that according to the constitution the government resigns immediately after a new president is elected and the new president consults with all parties before appointing a prime minister that will form a new government . This new demand by Hezbollah is seen by analysts as blackmail to extract concessions out of the majority prior to approving the presidency of Michel Suleiman.
Hezbollah also demanded consensus on the name of the next Army Commander who will replace Suleiman after the latter is elected as the new president and the armed resistance and international resolutions controversial issues before elections take place. These demands according to analysts are other forms of blackmail by Hezbollah since it wants to guarantee a pro Syrian army chief , wants to keep its arms and does not want the new president to abide by the UN resolutions.
According to analysts Hezbollah never intended to support General Michel Aoun for presidency but used him all along to obtain the Christian cover for the war and the protests and to put pressure on the parliament majority. Now that Aoun has publicly supported Suleiman, there is a sense of relief at the Shiite group but wants to maximize its gain before giving final approval to the army commander.
On Saturday, Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem said the militant group holds army commander Michel Suleiman in high regard further improving his chances of becoming Lebanon”s next president and averting a political crisis.
“We, in Hezbollah, … have a positive view of Gen. Michel Suleiman in addition to our appreciation of Gen. Michel Aoun”s stance and consider this alternative as a serious one,” the white-turbaned cleric said on Hezbollah”s al-Manar TV.
“There is a major opportunity for discussion in order to reach an accord on presidential elections,” Kassem added. Another hint of using blackmail to pressure the majority . Even though Suleiman was picked as a compromise candidate the parliament has to vote for him . The Hezbollah-led opposition is insisting on a quorum of 2/3 of the parliament even though the constitution is not clear on the issue. Since the majority does not control 2/3 of the parliament Hezbollah is trying to extract maximum gains before heading to the parliament to vote.
The parliament is scheduled to meet Friday to vote for a new president. For Suleiman to be elected, the Parliament will have to amend the constitution, which prevents senior state employees, including army commanders, from running for the post while in office.
The army chief is seen as a neutral figure who can appeal to both the ruling majority and the pro-Syrian opposition.