Lahoud Says He Would Name Suleiman as Provisional Successor

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said he would name army commander General Michel Suleiman as his provisional successor if the warring political sides fail to agree on a permanent head of state.
"The constitution is clear and so are our constitutional norms: a President can be elected only if two-thirds of the number of deputies attend the session," the pro-Syrian Lahoud said in a statement issued by his office on Thursday.

"Otherwise I have already made a suggestion to appoint a transitional cabinet headed by army commander General Suleiman and comprising six or seven civilians.

"The goal of this cabinet would be to draft a new electoral law, hold parliamentary elections and pave the way for the holding of presidential elections."

Lahoud was speaking ahead of a planned parliamentary vote this autumn to elect a new President, with the country's pro- and anti-Syrian blocs in a deadlock that threatens to exacerbate ongoing political paralysis.

A successful vote requires the 128-seat house to muster a quorum of 86 MPs but this will require a compromise, as the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Fouad Saniora has just 69 MPs.

Only once a quorum is reached can the legislature proceed to electing a president, but even then the only hope for success is a compromise candidate.

General Suleiman has recently made statements suggesting that he might be prepared to be that person.

Lahoud said he would not 'hand over power to the Saniora cabinet, "simply because I consider it unconstitutional and inexistent."

Lebanon has been mired in a political stalemate since last November, when pro-Syrian opposition forces, led by Hizbullah, withdrew their six ministers from the government.

Lahoud has refused to recognize the government's continuing legitimacy, and House Speaker Nabih Berri, Hizbullah ally, has blocked all legislative initiatives put forward by Saniora's administration.

Lahoud was elected President in 2000 and had been due to step down in 2004, but the country's then powerbroker Syria forced through parliament a controversial constitutional amendment extending his term for three more years.

This year's election must take place sometime between September 25, when parliament is due to reconvene, and the November 24 expiry of Lahoud's term.

Recent efforts by both the Arab League and France to broker a political compromise have come to naught.

The anti-Syrian majority has enough votes in parliament to propose a candidate but not enough to secure a quorum. In any case it also has to resolve its own internal divisions.

The Christian community is bitterly divided between those who support the majority, and followers of retired General Michel Aoun, who has made a controversial alliance with Hizbullah.(AFP-Naharnet)