Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt voiced concern about Nabih Berri's initiative, stressing that the Speaker's insistence to elect a new President for Lebanon by a two-third quorum would "cripple" the Parliament. "He (Berri) is trying to force on me a two-third (quorum), a matter that does not exist in article 49 (of the constitution) and to take away my right ( as stated) in article 79 which calls on the Parliament to convene 10 days ahead of the expiry of the President's term (of office) and use a simple majority vote," Jumblatt said Thursday on Kalam el-Nas talk show on LBC TV which is hosted by Marcel GhanemJumblatt explained that, "in politics," Berri's offer means that” he is seeking to strip the Parliament of its ability to function. This is exactly the same as when he tried to win a veto power in the government by attempting to secure a blocking minority which has failed, Jumblatt added "He is trying, through personal interpretations of presidential elections, to curtail my legal rights and bring us a consensus president," Jumblatt said. " We should agree on what?"
"Can we tell the people that we accepted a compromise at the expense of sovereignty, freedom and justice?" Jumblatt asked. "And then Â… get a President who could accept a Syrian tutelage or stab (U.N. Security Council) Resolutions from 1559 to 1701?" he wondered.