Telecoms Minister Boutros Harb said the alliance’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections must be able to attract votes from the rival March 8 coalition, and described himself as being able to fill the role.
“[I am not] confrontational, hostile, or provocative to anyone,” Harb told the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar in an article published Monday.
The March 14-affiliated minister said that the alliance cannot win the election with internal votes alone, “which means [we will have to] focus on a name that can attract additional votes from outside [our] team.”
Lebanon is looking to elect a new head of state prior to the end of President Michel Suleiman’s mandate, which expires on May 25, in order to avoid a power vacuum.
The constitution stipulates that between March 25 and May 15, the parliament can convene at any time to elect a new president.
If it has not done so by May 15, the parliament will be considered automatically in session for the following 10 days, in which a new president must be elected.
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