ASIA/LEBANON - Maronite Bishops to MPs: elect the new President as soon as possible

Bkerké (Agenzia Fides) - The Maronite Bishops, who met yesterday for their monthly meeting presided by Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai at the patriarchal seat of Bkerké, have once again urged the MPs to elect the new President of the Lebanese Republic as soon as possible. The beginning of the new year - reads the statement released at the end of the meeting and sent to Agenzia Fides - should represent a favorable moment to "strengthen new national ties and leave behind the dark tunnel in which the Country collapsed because of the vacatio of the presidential office".
After the failure of 17 parliamentary sessions convened for the presidential election due to the lack of agreement between the blocs that dominate the political scene of the country, the Maronite Bishops reaffirm that the institutional paralysis is exposing Lebanon to serious danger - with regards to the conflicts that are disrupting the entire Middle East - and invite the members of the various factions to "act in the spirit of national interest".
The meeting also welcomed the start of contacts, initiated or announced, between leaders and political groups so far in contrast, while inviting all forces not to limit themselves to bilateral meetings and to be open to global dialogue, which has as common reference point the national Pact and the Constitution. "Lebanon - reads the final communiqué of the Maronite Bishops - will not have a bright future if it remains a prisoner of the regional and internal axes, hostage of partial or sectarian interests. This is why mechanisms are needed to prevent blocking the presidential election at the end of each term, or cause paralysis of the other institutions". The Maronite Bishops also reiterated their closeness and support to the Lebanese Army, urging the government to do everything possible to facilitate the release of the soldiers held hostage by jihadist militants of Jabhat al Nusra. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 08/01/2015)