I was asked by "Al-Jumhuriya" about my comments on the suggestion from some new MPs from the "Forces of Change" to nominate a non-Shiite figure for the presidency of the parliament instead of me. I responded: "This means the beginning of applying the cancellation of sectarianism, and this is what I have been advocating for a long time, so I am not provoked by the matter." I added, "In any case, the parliament is the master of itself, and in the end, we all must respect the will of the general assembly that will elect the president of the parliament."
When asked if I feared being elected for a new term with modest Christian representation, Berri replied: "We are modest too (laughs)." When asked if it bothers him that major Christian blocs refrain from voting for him, he simply said while smiling: "There is no power nor strength except with God."
In response to a question about his candidate for the position of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, succeeding Eli Franjieh, Berri affirmed that the choice is up to the general assembly: "Whoever the members choose, I will welcome and cooperate with him."
In a related context, political circles close to the "duo" emphasize that "some enthusiastic members need to realize that they are now MPs and are no longer protesters in the squares, thus they should approach matters with balance and steadiness, away from political and constitutional theatrics."
The circles consider that someone who calls for electing a parliament president outside sectarian constraints is like someone playing football who suddenly decides in the second half of the match to switch to basketball. They stress that changing the rules of the game cannot be done this way; "First, we need to hold parliamentary elections outside the sectarian constraints, and then the president of the parliament, as well as the president of the republic and the prime minister, can be chosen on that basis."
Commenting on hints by some against Berri's election towards possibly choosing MP Inaam Azeddine for the presidency, the circles note that aside from the "lack of seriousness" in this "childish" proposal, Azeddine is not a candidate: "If they are so convinced of her deserving support, why didn't they give her their votes in the Tyre district?"
Emad Marhaml - Al-Jumhuriya
