BEIRUT: The Kataeb party Monday called for the formation of a Maronite pressure group in order to push lawmakers to elect a new president.
Following its weekly meeting the Kataeb issued a statement arguing that the election of a president would be the best way to deal with the critical issues facing the country, including the wage-scale increase, the Syrian refugee crisis and maintaining internal stability.
The Kataeb reiterated the need to follow through with its leader Amine Gemayel’s initiative to form a Maronite pressure group, which would work at the national level to push for another presidential election, while consulting Maronite leaders.
Since March, Maronite leaders have been aiming to form a pressure group to mobilize political parties in order to come to a consensus over the presidential issue.
The party rejected the option of focusing on parliamentary polls to counter the gridlock over the presidential election, arguing that “once process does not cancel out the other,” and that focusing on the legislative elections would render the presidential post irrelevant.
The party also called for resuming talks over the draft electoral law, which concluded at an impasse last year. The party said such a law should ensure fair representation and be just toward youth, women and expats.
Touching on the Lebanese University’s decision to postpone examinations in a bid to pressure the government to make institutional appointments and promote contract lecturers to full-time staff, the Kataeb demanded more information in order to come to an agreement that would mitigate between the state and the rights of public sector employees.
The party stressed that any resolution reached over the issue should work around the clock to save the academic year.
The party also called for an investigation to be conducted into the chaos that came with the Syrian presidential election at its diplomatic mission May 28, stressing on the need to rethink the categorization of refugee status.
Source: The Daily Star