BEIRUT: In a bid to ease tensions between Ain El-Tineh and Bkirki, Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil met Friday with Patriarch Beshara Rai in hopes of bridging the gap between Speaker Nabih Berri and the Maronite church over the presidential deadlock.
The meeting between Khalil – a member of Berri’s Amal Movement – and Rai comes after the patriarch questioned the legitimacy of Berri’s suggested political “package deal.” Berri had tied the election of a president to a comprehensive political deal that includes an agreement over a new parliamentary electoral system, the makeup of the upcoming Cabinet and the distribution of ministerial portfolios. Rai had rejected Berri’s proposal, arguing that it was in violation of the constitution.
“There are no differences in the stances between Berri and Rai, since the speaker is keen on continuing his efforts and contacts to preserve a consensus with Bkirki,” Khalil told reporters following his meeting with the Maronite Patriarch.
In an apparent attempt to downplay differences with the Maronite church, Khalil said the speaker stood by Bkirki’s latest appeal for a political breakthrough.
Khalil was referring to a statement released earlier this week by Maronite bishops, echoing Rai’s opposition to Berri’s proposal and calling for the election of a president. “The president should be liberated from all constraints in order to fulfill his national duties,” read part of the statement.
Khalil, however, said the statement was in harmony with Berri’s call for a comprehensive political agreement to break the deadlock.
He added that Berri didn’t veto any presidential candidate while highlighting that the Amal Movement has been pushing for an agreement between Lebanon’s rival political factions to lay the ground for the presidential election. “Our commitment is proved by our unwillingness to boycott any of the 45 presidential electoral sessions,” the Finance Minister said.
