The Assyrian Democratic Organization
By Sam F. Ghattas
Libanon – AP — The head of Lebanon’s influential Maronite Catholic Church stepped in on Friday to try to head off what could be the next crisis to strike this conflict-torn country — the increasing likelihood that divided lawmakers will be unable to elect a president.
Lebanon’s parliament has not met for three months because of the divisions between supporters of the Western-backed government and the opposition, led by Syria and Iran ally Hezbollah. It is parliament’s role to choose a new president before the term of Syrian ally Emile Lahoud runs out Nov. 23. But the deadlock and bitterness between the two camps makes it doubtful a compromise candidate can be found.
Failure to pick a head of state could leave the post empty and could even lead to the creation of two competing governments. In 1988, when Lebanon was in similar straits, the army and administration split in a dispute that ended in one of the last battles of the 1975-1990 civil war. The current political crisis has taken a sectarian tone and erupted into street battles earlier this year which killed 11 people.
Alarmed by the possibility of a presidential crisis, Maronite Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir ended a boycott of Lahoud, and the two discussed choosing a successor. It was the first encounter in over a year between the spiritual leader of the church and the president. The church has a special interest in the presidency, a post traditionally held by a Maronite under Lebanon’s sectarian-based division of political power — making Lebanon the only state in the overwhelmingly Muslim Arab world with a Christian head of state.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sfeir said he hoped the presidential election will be held “on time and that there will be the person who can take charge.” He refused to suggest a candidate but said the choice should be “an experienced person, be of the same distance from all people” and serve the national interest.
The anti-Syrian coalition swept into power in 2005 has been trying to oust Lahoud, seen as one of the anchors of Syria’s continuing influence in the country. The anti-Syrian bloc, Sfeir and Western countries have refused to meet Lahoud, whose term was extended under Syrian pressure in 2004, months before the Syrian army was forced to withdraw from Lebanon after the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Now with Lahoud unable to run for another term, the anti-Syrians — who hold a slim majority in parliament — see their chance to elect one of their own to the post. But the Hezbollah-led opposition has vowed to reject any candidate they don’t approve of. The anti-Syrian bloc has threatened to use its simple majority to pass a candidate, but the opposition insists a two-thirds quorum — as has been the practice in previous presidential elections, even during civil war — is necessary and threatens to boycott any vote.
Already, the opposition is trying to oust the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, which Lahoud does not recognize. Saniora has resisted, but has been unable to govern effectively because the speaker of parliament — an ally of Syria and Lahoud — has refused to convene the legislature. The dispute has split Lebanon along sectarian lines, with Sunni Muslims backing Saniora, who is Sunni, and Shiites backing the opposition. Christians are divided.
If there is no president, the constitution calls on the prime minister and his Cabinet to assume his duties. But some in the opposition are calling on Lahoud — if it appears no successor is agreed on by the time he leaves office — to appoint a Christian to head a new government to ensure that the presidential powers remain in Christian hands. With Saniora refusing to quit, that would precipitate two administrations.
A similar crisis erupted in 1988, when two governments were formed. Fighting erupted between the divided factions of the army, and eventually a Syrian assault removed one of the governments. “My message to the people is to remain calm … I hope things will occur on time, in accordance with the constitution,” Sfeir said after the 90-minute meeting with Lahoud. Other religious leaders also hoped to avert a further meltdown.
The spiritual leader of Lebanon’s Sunni Muslims, Grand Mufti Sheik Mohammed Rashid Kabbani said Friday he will work with the “wise leaders … to prevent falling into the trap of a second government.” He reminded the Lebanese of “the dark stage of conflicts and destruction of Lebanon when there were two governments.”
