Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, a close ally of Syria, has made it clear he is willing to stand for another term as Damascus wishes, despite strong across-the-board opposition to changing the constitution to allow him to run. Lahoud said late Tuesday: "If a parliamentary majority wishes to bestow this mission upon me again, then I am ready to accept."
| "If nominated, I will run. If elected, I will serve. If not, I'm going to Damascus and you can go to hell!" |
Syria's overwhelming political influence in Lebanon, where it has thousands of troops, means it can also count on a majority of members of Parliament. But a growing number of Lebanese religious and political figures are opposed to Lahoud standing for re-election because, under the constitution as it stands, a president is not allowed to stand for a second successive term.
While Syria is keen to keep a man they see as an ally in office, the United States is known to oppose the move and Lahoud's announcement drew a swift response from Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and other members of the Christian community, from whose ranks the head of state is always drawn. "The constitution is not just an ordinary law which you can change as you think fit," the newspaper An-Nahar quoted Sfeir as saying. "Each time it has been amended it has led to a serious crisis." In recent times, two constitutional amendments concerning the presidency have been sought by Syria and voted through Parliament. In 1995, the presidential term of Elias Hraoui was extended for three years and in 1998, Lahoud was able to stand for president after the rules were changed because he had not resigned as head of the armed forces within the allotted time frame to be eligible. "Syria is interfering," Sfeir said. "Lebanese politicians who were against the constitutional amendment changed their minds after going to Syria."
| So, how's it feel to be a colony? |
|