Jumblatt, in an interview with the youth supplement of the daily an-Nahar to be published Thursday said "We will elect a president for the republic from the March 14 ranks by simple majority and in any venue outside parliament because the constitution permits this after the 14th of October."

Excerpts of the interview were distributed by the state-run National News Agency (NNA). He stressed on rejecting a new head of state by consensus saying: "If we accept the principle of consensus with the other side, which I term the foe that doesn't believe in the principles of the Cedars Revolution, we would waste the sacrifices of all our martyrs."

He accused Hezbollah of seeking to establish "a mini state" through purchasing property by "Iranian backing." "They want to establish political, military and economic control over the nation," Jumblatt said of Hezbollah.

He said the "great battle" would be fought over choosing the team of Lebanese judges to the international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 killing of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri and related crimes.

He accused Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of becoming a "mail box for (Hezbollah leader) Hassan Nasrallah." "Unfortunately Berri has finished himself with his own hands," he added.

In 2005 Jumblatt was the leading supporter of Berri to be the speaker of the parliament and lobbied hard for him. Jumblatt lost faith in Berri after the resignation of the Shiite ministers from the cabinet. Jumblatt saw Berri transformed from being the leader of the Amal movement to becoming the rubber stamp of Hezbollah. Berri refused to convene the parliament ever since the Shiite Ministers resigned, despite pressure from several groups.

The pro-Syrian opposition has been calling for convening the parliament and electing the president with 2 third majority. Their demand for the 2 third majority is to control the outcome of the elections and this is why they want to agree on a president by consensus before heading to the parliament on September 25, the date set by Speaker Berri. The idea is if no agreement is reached on a president by consensus , the opposition MPs will not show up at the parliament on September 25 and no election could take place because of lack of a quorum.


Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan