Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Friday the need to stage the presidential elections on time, saying that he does not have the right to interfere in the elections. He said upon his return to Lebanon from a trip to Geneva: “I have not rejected the nomination of any March 8 or 14 camp presidential candidate and I do not have the right to refuse any bid.”

 

Parliament alone has the right to approve or reject a nomination, he remarked to reporters from Rafik Hariri International Airport. “Parliament alone elects a president,” he said. I advocate any president that is elected by the parliament and I will not veto any candidate,” al-Rahi added. “We welcome any president who enjoys parliament’s consensus, regardless if they support the March 8 or 14 camps,” said the patriarch. [Link]