We Have A President (Probably)!
Hariri's Future Movement just announced that it will support a constitutional amendment to allow General Michel Suleiman to ascend to the Presidency. As far as I know, the other March 14 players haven't commented on this yet -- and Geagea's reaction will be particularly interesting -- but it's hard to imagine that Hariri would do this without first ensuring that he would get his way.
A few quick notes. First, I was obviously wrong that the Presidential issue would be frozen until after Annapolis. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Second, it's going to be interesting to see how alliances shift following the vote. Specifically, whether Aoun's bloc stays behind him, whether Hezbollah and Amal remain united, and what Jumblatt and Geagea say. Third, there's going to be a lot of questioning about whether Sleiman is an acceptable compromise for March 14. Me, I'm not too sure. But we will see, won't we?
Comments (3)
I wrote about the constitutional Quagmire this will create. But hey, who needs a constitution in Lebanon!
Posted by Super Dude | November 28, 2007 5:17 PM
Posted on November 28, 2007 17:17
I think you were exactly correct about Annapolis. Syria wanted to go to Annapolis with no President in Lebanon .. and they did that. The meetings were yesterday and today .....M14 magically says - OK, Suleiman is fine and we will do another "one time only amendment" for him.
I don't know what kind of "deal" was made but the M14 Ministers and MPs are ready to accept anyone short of the "devil" to get out of this mess. They just want to go home, and hopefully "survive". Interesting article in todays Daily Star about just that. They were hoping to be able to "resign" when Lahoud did. They just want OUT.
Suleiman was always the Syrian choice. Score one for Syria if this goes through and the Lebanese lose again.
Posted by Ace | November 28, 2007 7:34 PM
Posted on November 28, 2007 19:34
I don't think the hype around Sleiman now is anything to be overly excited about, especially for those who believed this presidency would be the end of the Syrian domination of the presidenctial seat.
Michel Sleiman was appointed as head of the army when SYRIA WAS IN POWER. That means not only is he approved by the regime there, he's desired. This can only spell disaster...I foresee the end of 1559 before my very eyes.
Posted by k | November 29, 2007 12:34 AM
Posted on November 29, 2007 00:34