President Michel Suleiman stated on Thursday that possible security dangers should not hinder the staging of the parliamentary elections, because these dangers will be more severe should the polls not be held and the term of the current parliament be extended.
He said: “There is a 95 percent chance that the elections will be held, but not according to the 1960 law.”
He made his remarks before a delegations from the editors syndicate.
“I am not banking on any development” as the constitution stipulates when the elections should be staged, added the president.
On some March 8 camp members' labeling as a “black day” his signing of the decree calling on the electoral bodies to the elections, Suleiman asked: “Is performing one's duties a black day?”
“Those concerned with the elections do not have the choice to oppose signing the decree,” he added.
Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati signed the decree on Monday calling on electoral bodies to hold the elections based on the 1960 law, which has been opposed by the rival March 8 and 14 camps.
“The 1960 law is dead, but it has not yet been buried. It will only be buried at parliament because a law cannot be eliminated without the approval of a new one,” he explained.
Commenting on the security situation in Lebanon, the president said: “This issue is not the sole responsibility of the army and security forces, but politicians and religious authorities are also obligated to maintain the peace.”
Addressing the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon, Suleiman wondered: “Why would we want to spread the crisis to the country?”
“Why should we sacrifice our nation to the Arab Spring?” he asked.
