#lebanese_presidential_elections

#Lebanese_Forces leader Geagea resolved to continue dialogue with General Aoun
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-forces-leader-geagea-resolved-continue-dialogue-general-

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Leader of the Lebanese Forces #Samir_Geagea at his residence in Maarab. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah Leader of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea at his residence in Maarab. Al-Akhbar/Marwan Tahtah

The visit by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to #Saudi_Arabia last week received a lot of political attention locally, given its timing and the level of meetings he held with Saudi officials, particularly since it coincided with visits by international envoys to #Lebanon to discuss the issue of the presidential vacuum. Geagea’s visit to Saudi Arabia and his upcoming meeting with head of the Change and Reform bloc General #Michel_Aoun to discuss the presidency and other issues, were two key themes of Al-Akhbar’s interview with the (...)

#Articles #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Saad_Hariri

The conspiracy scenario: Hariri and #Hezbollah against Aoun
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/conspiracy-scenario-hariri-and-hezbollah-against-aoun

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Presidential hopeful, #Michel_Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) Presidential hopeful, Michel Aoun. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

A Lebanese politician returning from #Paris recounts his tale about what he calls a “presidential conspiracy” in the French capital. According to the politician, [Saad] Hariri, [Fouad] Siniora, and [Samir] Geagea, with [Walid] Jumblatt and Saud al-Faisal close at hand, had agreed on the required scenario to eliminate Michel Aoun’s candidacy for the presidency. However, they arrived at the question of how to avoid a presidential vacuum, particularly since this was a red line for more than one regional player.

Jean Aziz

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#Opinion #Ain_al-Hilweh #Articles #Ashraf_Rifi #Bkirki #Fouad_Siniora #gebran_bassil #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Suleiman #Nahr_al-Bared #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Tarik_al-Jdideh

Salam and the Christians in government work to prevent presidential vacuum
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/salam-and-christians-government-work-prevent-presidential-vacuum

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A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister #Tammam_Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA) A picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) shows Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (R) meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Jeddah during the latter’s visit to the kingdom on May 20, 2014. (Photo: AFP/HO/SPA)

Since the presidential post will soon be vacant, the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam will take center stage. Salam’s visit to #Saudi_Arabia will be the first step taken by the post-May-25-government. (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Beshara_al-Rai #Free_Patriotic_Movement #King_Abdullah_bin_Abdul_Aziz #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Maronite #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon: US watching presidential elections closely, no favored candidate yet
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-us-watching-presidential-elections-closely-no-favored-can

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Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam (C) casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam (C) casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

Slowly, international attention is beginning to turn to the #Lebanese_presidential_elections, as if it was waiting for the post to be vacant to display enthusiasm. Ambassadors are urging the election of a president before the constitutional deadline [on May 25]. They are watching the different actors without directly intervening or favoring a specific candidate. They (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Emile_Lahoud #Michel_Suleiman

Lebanese presidency: May 25 is not the deadline for regional efforts
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-presidency-may-25-not-deadline-regional-efforts

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Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/Pool) Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri casts his vote to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/Pool)

Though the Lebanese are anticipating May 25, the constitutional deadline for electing a new president, regional and international powers aren’t concerned with this date. They are only interested in maintaining security and stability in the country.

Hiyam Kossayfi

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#Opinion #Articles #FPM #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea

An Aoun-Hariri alliance could steer the country
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-hariri-alliance-could-steer-country

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Lebanese member of parliament #Michel_Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese member of parliament Michel Aoun holds a press conference following a parliament session to vote for the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

The private talks between Aoun and Hariri are now public. Former Prime Minister #Saad_Hariri has opted for endless negotiations as his prefered tactic until time runs out, or his opponents get exhausted. In the meantime, he is making significant political gains, some tactical, (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Future_Movement #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #MARCH_14 #March_8 #Michel_Suleiman

#Lebanon: Presidential void inevitable
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-presidential-void-inevitable

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Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL) Lebanese members of parliament count the votes after casting their ballots to elect the new Lebanese president in the parliament building in downtown Beirut on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid/POOL)

Judging from what happened on April 23 and April 30, the upcoming sessions of parliament to elect a new president are only a facade until political factions can decide on a consensus candidate. The number of MPs attending – those who want to reach quorum and those who want to evade it – will dwindle week after week. The (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Future_Movement #Hezbollah #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Tammam_Salam #Walid_Jumblatt

#Henri_Helou, a “serious” candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/henri-helou-serious%E2%80%9D-candidate

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Presidential candidate, MP Henri Helou. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) Presidential candidate, MP Henri Helou. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi)

In the Lebanese parliament, greedy vicious beasts prevail, but there are also a few rather gentle creatures who reached the chamber by mere chance. MP Henri Helou is one of them. A decent man indeed, so decent you would think he belongs to one of those groups that gives free hugs. But after just one hour with him, you cease to ridicule his candidacy for presidency and actually start to sympathize with the man.

Ghassan Saoud

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#Opinion #Amchit #Articles #Fadi_al-Awar #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Michel_Chiha #Michel_Suleiman #Okab_Sakr #Pierre_Helou #Tammam_Salam #Walid_Jumblatt

#Lebanon: No rush to elect a new president
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanon-no-rush-elect-new-president

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Birds fly outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Birds fly outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

Just two weeks ago, the Solidarity Party could have organized an election rally at Forum De Beyrouth and invited representatives of the March 8 alliance. The party’s leader, #Emile_Rahme, would have taken the stage and read a presidential program prepared for him by a leading consulting company.

Ghassan Saoud

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#Opinion #Articles #Free_Patriotic_Movement #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Saad_Hariri #Samir_Geagea #Walid_Jumblatt

#Lebanese_presidential_elections: Looking for a president, not just a candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-presidential-elections-looking-president-not-just-candid

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Lebanese security forces stand guard outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) Lebanese security forces stand guard outside the parliament building in downtown Beirut as members of parliament gather to elect the new Lebanese president on April 23, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid)

The first parliament session for the presidential elections concluded without electing a new president, though the session confirmed the principle of "no winners, no losers.” The session was nothing more than muscle flexing, with each one of the three main political factions casting their votes. The outcome: No faction comprises a (...)

#Opinion #Articles #Bashir_Gemayel #Charles_Helou #Elias_Sarkis #Fouad_Chehab #Henri_Helou #Lebanese_Forces #Lebanon #Michel_Suleiman #Nabih_Berri #Samir_Geagea #Suleiman_Franjieh #Walid_Jumblatt

The disgraceful MPs
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/disgraceful-mps

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The Lebanese MPs who voted for #Samir_Geagea to be president. (Photo: Al-Akhbar) Al-Akhbar)" width="620" height="510" class="imagecache imagecache-4cols imagecache-default imagecache-4cols_default"/> The Lebanese MPs who voted for Samir Geagea to be president. (Photo: Al-Akhbar)

This is not about democracy because justice is not up for a vote. It is not a political issue either because no polity should coexist with murderers at the helm.

Ibrahim al-Amin

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#Opinion #Articles #Habib_Shartouni #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebanon #Rashid_Karami

#Michel_Aoun: The last strong presidential candidate
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/michel-aoun-last-strong-presidential-candidate

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Lebanese President #Michel_Suleiman (L) attends the 25th Arab League summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on March 25, 2014. His term expires at the end of May, with Michel Aoun looking to succeed him. (Photo: AFP-Yasser al-Zayyat) Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (L) attends the 25th Arab League summit at Bayan palace in Kuwait City on March 25, 2014. His term expires at the end of May, with Michel Aoun looking to succeed him. (Photo: AFP-Yasser al-Zayyat)

We will not have another presidential election like this one. Since 1990, people have hoped that a strong president would return to the Baabda presidential palace to create a balance between Christian, Sunni, and Shia influence in the government. (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #France #gebran_bassil #Hariri #Iran #Jean_Obeid #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Nabih_Berri #Saudi_Arabia #US #Walid_Jumblatt #Ziad_Baroud

Has the race for Baabda begun ?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/has-race-baabda-started

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Who will succeed President #Michel_Suleiman? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Who will succeed President Michel Suleiman? (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

As Al-Akhbar predicted, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri has chosen Wednesday, April 23 as the date for the first session for parliament to elect a new president for #Lebanon. Some have seen the move as a knee-jerk reaction to parliament’s about-face regarding the wage hike for public sector employees on Tuesday. However, sources close to Berri confirm that it is indeed the first round in the presidential face-off.

Jean Aziz

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#Opinion #Amine_Gemayel #Articles #Bandar_bin_Sultan #Boutros_Harb #Fouad_Siniora #Future_Movement #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Robert_Ghanem #Samir_Geagea

Will the #Future_Movement abandon its favored candidates once again?
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/will-future-movement-abandon-its-favored-candidates-once-again

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A handout picture distributed by the Lebanese Forces on April 4, 2014 shows Lebanese Christian leader #Samir_Geagea (C) and his wife and Parliament Member Setrida Geagea (C-L) attending a press conference in Maarab, northeast of Beirut. (Photo: AFP-Lebanese Forces/Ayoub) A handout picture distributed by the Lebanese Forces on April 4, 2014 shows Lebanese Christian leader Samir Geagea (C) and his wife and Parliament Member Setrida Geagea (C-L) attending a press conference in Maarab, northeast of Beirut. (Photo: AFP-Lebanese Forces/Aldo Ayoub)

Almost all Lebanese political factions agree that none of the current presidential candidates will win in the first round of voting, which requires a two-thirds majority of MPs, (...)

#Lebanon #Articles #Boutros_Harb #Hezbollah #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Michel_Aoun #Michel_Suleiman #Nabih_Berri #Robert_Ghanem #Sayed_Hassan_Nassrallah

Aoun aims to replace Kahwaji, fears he could be next president
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/aoun-aims-replace-kahwaji-fears-he-could-be-next-president

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MP #Michel_Aoun. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) MP Michel Aoun. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah)

For three years, the army has remained #Lebanon’s only functioning institution. To some extent, it managed to withstand all the political campaigns and armed attacks that targeted it, including the recent spate of suicide bombings. And unlike 1975’s events, the regional and interior strife stemming from the crisis in Syria hasn’t segmented the Lebanese military institution.

Hiyam Kossayfi

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#Articles #Chamel_Roukoz #Hezbollah #Jean_Kahwaji #lebanese_army #Lebanese_presidential_elections #Lebaon #Michel_Sleiman #Nabih_Berri #Samir_Geagea #Tammam_Salam