Opinion: Syria Must Have Say in Choice of Lebanese President

Omar Chevelti warns in Teshreen that a “major crisis” will emerge if Lebanon’s ruling parties choose a president without seeking the approval of the Shia opposition party Hizbullah and its close ally Syria. The author accuses the US ambassador in Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman, of interfering in the presidential election and warns that such interference could fracture Lebanon.



Chevelti backs Syria’s wish that the new Lebanese president build friendly ties with Damascus so that bilateral relations “return to normal”.



Faiz Shukur, secretary-general of the Lebanese Baath party, warns in Syria’s Al-Baath newspaper that he will oppose a president who does not have a good relationship with Damascus. Echoing Chevelti’s view, he writes that Lebanon will be engulfed in chaos the opposition is not consulted when the president is chosen.



[Lebanese parliamentarians are attempting to elect a president to replace President Emile Lahoud, whose term expires this year. Lahoud is seen as close to Syria. The process has been stalled because of political disputes and parliamentary boycotts by opposition members.]