A photo of Lebanese Army General Michel Sleiman is plastered on a wall in Beirut on May 22. Sleiman is set to be elected Lebanon's president this weekend following a breakthrough deal between the country's Western-backed majority and the Hezbollah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran. (AFP/Patrick Baz)

Majority Threatened to Boycott Sunday's Session, Berri Retreats Invitation Decision

Reports that Speaker Nabih Berri was not going to invite Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government to Sunday's presidential elections session since he deems it "unconstitutional" prompted the ruling majority to threaten a boycott.

Press reports have said Berri will not allow Saniora's cabinet to take part in Sunday's session as a "cohesive government" since he deems it unconstitutional.

Leaders of the pro-government majority believed that the government is considered resigned by a Presidential decree and that would only take place after the new head of state had been sworn in.

Therefore, the majority believed, Berri has no more excuses for considering the government "unconstitutional."

When leaders from the majority inquired about Berri's move, they were told that cabinet attendance is not required as stipulated in the constitution. Other sources, however, said Saniora's participation in the sworn-in session would not be in his capacity as prime minister but rather as Lebanon's former premier since the government is considered resigned after the election of a President.

That prompted for MP Saad Hariri's intervention who contacted Qatari officials, who in turn telephoned Berri.

Meanwhile, Saniora telephoned Arab League chief Amr Moussa in this regard. Contacts were swiftly launched between Beirut and a number of Arab states only to be discovered that the eight-member Arab ministerial committee that mediated the Lebanon agreement in Doha was not invited to Sunday's session. Reason is: Lack of enough room, they were told.

The pro-government majority then threatened to boycott the session, prompting Arab intervention on all levels which led Berri to back off his decision not to invite the Saniora cabinet. 

Beirut, 24 May 08, 10:32

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&4FF76B0105B7F062C22574530031596A

• March 14 are still discussing whom to nominate for the premiership.
• Parliamentary elections law is an important step for us.
• The Doha Agreement is meek, but it is very good under the present circumstances.
• The Doha Agreement is the first Arab document in 15 years that does not mention the Resistance.
• The blocking third in the cabinet does not have the same value it did six months ago.
• We reject having certain ministers appointed in the cabinet just to satisfy some factions.
• We worked quietly with some factions at Doha in order to reach an agreement.
• We were not clinging to the US in the past, so it cannot be said that the US has abandoned us. It is funny the way some are trying to compare the relationship between us and the United States to the relationship between a mother and her baby.
• We will back Gen. Suleiman during his term but we expressed our reservations towards the election process itself, Geagea said.

14:14 Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashadani arrived at al-Masnaa Border crossing with Syria to attend presidential election session on Sunday.

14:00 Exams scheduled for Monday May 26 at all Lebanese University faculties have been postponed to an unspecified date.

13:45 The foreign ministers of Iran, France, Kuwait, Spain, Turkey, Italy will arrive on Sunday to attend the presidential election session at 5pm.

13:28 European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and European Parliament vice-speaker to arrive in Beirut at 10pm.

13:25 Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa will arrive at 8pm to attend Gen. Suleiman's election on Sunday.

13:22 Qatar's prime minister and the Arab parliament speaker will arrive in Beirut at 7pm.
13:20 The foreign ministers of Bahrain, Jordan and Oman will arrive at 6pm in Beirut to attend Sunday's presidential election session.

12:34 Mustafa Othman Ismail, advisor to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, will arrive in Beirut at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday to represent Bashir at the election of Army Commander General Michel Sleiman as president.

11:32 MP Hadi Hobeich of the Future bloc to the LBC: I support the amendment of the constitution, though everyone is calling for overlooking this matter .

The constitutional council looks into the presidential elections. Challenging the constitutionality of the presidential elections requires a petition signed by two-third of the MPs. But it seems that this will not happen for few are those objecting to the way the presidential elections are being held.

The premiership is restricted either to MP Saad Hariri or Premier Fouad Siniora. The Future bloc and March 14 are consulting over this matter. The opposition forces does not have any objection in this regard.

11:22 The presidency of the parliament has been officially notified that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faycal will attend the presidential session on Sunday. 

07:45 Prime Minister and members of the Lebanese cabinet will be attending the presidential election session.

06:25 An Nahar: Electoral Law will not be amended during Sunday's session.

06:10 An Nahar daily: Saniora will host a dinner banquet in the evening for all cabinet ministers, including the six opposition ministers who resigned in November 2006.

06:00 Al Mustaqbal daily: MP Saad Hariri returned to Beirut overnight.

05:58 Dr. Geagea received on Friday an official invitation from Qatar PM to visit Qatar.