A Siniora christmas

I have no time to post, but how about this for a Christmas present. It might not be to the liking of many of us, who would have preferred a different outcome. It certainly will not appeal to the grinches who keep stealing Lebanon’s holidays. But oh well, Merry Christmas everyone. And Happy Adha too.

Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's Government on Monday adopted a constitutional amendment bill to allow the election of army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman president. The government also adopted a motion calling for an extraordinary legislative session by parliament as of January 1, to tackle the amendment bill.

The bill amends the third clause of article 49 of the constitution, which bans the election of senior public employees for president.

The house goes into a legislative recess for nearly three months as of Dec. 31, but retains its right to elect a new head of state in light of the persisting presidential void since Nov. 24.

The move by the Saniora Government is apparently aimed at cornering Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri into either accepting the constitutional amendment and calling the house to tackle and ratify it, or rejecting the approach and, therefore, appearing as leading an effort to foil Suleiman's election. (Naharnet)

Comments

[Bad Vilbel]

Grinch here.

That's a bit too little too late. Berri is going to reject it and nothing will come of it. Still nothing to see here...

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[Super Dude]

Too late for what?

The 50+1 option can't be exercised toward Sleimen if this does not happen.

That gives them 50+1 option to elect Sleimen, in addition to the other candidates.

It does show something else. The opposition is ready to recognize the government and accept this amendment, if a nice fruit basket was included on Sleimen's head. But since it was only a sugar cube instead, this government is illegal, unconstitutional, a joke, a Zionist entity representing Satan, etc...

Berri can't do much except say what he has to say.

To consider this as a part of a bigger strategic scheme from M14 toward salvation would be giving them too much credit. Saniora showed that he knows how to do one thing really good, and that is to keep the options open in all directions.

[Andre]

Suleiman's candidacy is very shaky at this point...unless M14 offers some kind of a deal which is not likely it will be withdrawn due to the continuing bickering. Suleiman needs to reassure M8 that he will not ignore them and that he will be balanced in his approach. He has been very quiet as opposed to making speeches to introduce himself to the public..as a presidential candidate not much is known about him and that's bound to raise a lot of questions about him from a lot of people. He needs to speak his mind and be talking like a unifying candidate to all parties.

[marillionlb]

Andre,
Do not count on Michel Sleiman being any different than his predecessor. Screw M8 for the Syrian agents they are and M14 for their lack of leadership and balls. Suleiman is nothing but an army man who is now bewitched by the presidential seat.
Even if elected give him a short while and you will see his true colors.

[bernadette salame]

Will Bishop Beshara El Rahi now be the next one to be assassinated ...
posted by: aussie-leb downunder