Forces of Change MPs at a press conference. (Twitter/@MelhemKhalaf)
BEIRUT — Forces of Change MPs met with Tachnag and Kataeb parliamentary blocs on Monday to discuss Lebanese presidential elections, inaugurating the first round of meetings focused on their presidential initiative.
The initiative, launched on Sept. 3, aims to define the profile of the next president.
"We were informed of the Forces of Change MPs' initiative and must study it," said MP Hagop Pakradounian (Metn/Tashnag) at a press conference Monday. He offered assurances that the Tachnag party, which is allied with the Free Patriotic Movement and Armenian officials, are "in favor of holding the presidential election within the constitutional deadline."
"We are ready to play the role of liaison between the different parties in order to elect a president before Oct. 31," said Pakradounian. The meeting focused on the criteria of the future president, Pakradounian said, though he refrained from mentioning what that criteria might be. He reported only a "positive atmosphere" from the meeting.
"President [Michel] Aoun, alone, cannot reach solutions. We must all help each other," Pakradounian added.
Speaking at the same press conference, Forces of Change MP Melhem Khalaf said he considers the Oct. 31 "essential" and "a point of transformation to recover the state."
In a later press conference following a meeting with the Kataeb party, Khalaf assured the press that talks were "more than positive" and that both sides "share same goals" in regards to a merit-based presidential appointment.
Head of the Kataeb party Sami Gemayel (Metn/Kataeb) agreed the talks were positive, but cautioned that the meetings are still in an early phase.
"We must maintain constant coordination because we are facing an evil that has brought Lebanon to the place it has reached," Gemayel said.
The election period to select Aoun's successor began on Aug. 31. Forces of Change MPs threatened to use "methods of popular pressure" if a new head of state is not elected before Oct. 20. The MPs said they will conclude their first round of meetings on Saturday, and aim to move on to the second round next week.