Lebanon's government drafted a law yesterday to amend the constitution to allow the army chief to become president, but the opposition condemned the move and said it would intensify the country's political deadlock.
The Western-backed government and pro-Syrian opposition agree in principle on the election of General Michel Suleiman as president, but the opposition wants guarantees it will have veto power in a future coalition Cabinet before a full deal. The government wants Suleiman elected first.
Neither the anti-Syrian governing coalition nor the Hezbollah-led opposition have enough seats in parliament to secure a two-thirds quorum for the election, delayed repeatedly since September 25.
The presidency has been vacant since pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud's term ended four weeks ago.
An article in the constitution bans senior public servants from running for office. The opposition says however no constitutional amendment is necessary and in any case considers the government and any decisions it takes illegitimate since its own ministers resigned last year.
Ali Hassan Khalil, adviser to opposition leader and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, said of the draft amendment: "This escalation indicates the intention to obstruct a deal and the closing of doors for any initiatives."
Theoretically the draft law passes to parliament for approval. But Khalil said Berri would not receive the draft law because he considers the government unconstitutional.
Berri was quoted as telling the pro-Syrian Ad-Diyar newspaper that electing Suleiman did not require a constitutional amendment and that he would continue to call parliamentary sessions to try to elect a president.
Berri last week postponed the parliamentary election vote for the tenth time, to December 29.
Source:China Daily/Agencies
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