LF leader Samir Geagea pronounces a statement in Maarab, Oct. 28, 2022. (Credit: Twitter/@DrSamirGeagea)
Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea called on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday to convene a parliamentary electoral session "until someone is elected," just days ahead of President Michel Aoun's term expiration on Oct. 31.
After Monday's latest election session — where MPs again failed to elect a president — no new session was scheduled by Berri.
"We ask Berri to convene a new session as soon as possible," said Geagea during a speech in Maarab, his residence and LF headquarters. "There must only be one session, even if it takes a long time, a whole day, a night, the next day... It should not end before someone is elected."
The last electoral session didn't make it past the first round of voting because many MPs exited Parliament, thus losing quorum. Eighty-six of 128 MPs must be present to hold a vote.
"The quorum is made to be respected, not to be used to circumvent the vote," said Geagea. "We can vote for who we want, but not block the country."
Geagea then criticized the "opposing camp" — referring to Hezbollah and its allies, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the Amal Movement, led by Nabih Berri.
"If the other side really wanted to have a dialogue, they would have done it," said Geagea. "We will continue to vote for our candidate, so let the other side do the same."
The Lebanese Forces parliamentary group has consistently voted for Zghorta MP Michel Moawad, while the FPM, Hezbollah, and Amal cast blank ballots at every electoral session.
"When I heard of Berri's call for dialogue, I was surprised," added Geagea. "I would have preferred him to make a call to the MPs who block the sessions and the second rounds [of voting]."