President Hrawi: Going home, no play with the constitution
Lebanon, Politics, 3/11/1998

Lebanese President Elias Hrawi on Tuesday sought to put an end to speculation on whether he wished to extend his presidential mandate by announcing he would "go home" when his term expires in November. Visitors to Baabda presidential palace quoted the president as saying: "When my term ends, I will go home."

Hrawi reportedly said he would not seek an amendment to the constitution to allow him to run for a second term. "I have nothing to do with constitutional amendments," he said.

Visiting MPs said the president was angered by the fuss created over remarks made a day earlier by Interior Minister Michel Murr, in which he hinted at the possibility of extending Hrawi's mandate.

Murr had said he was in favor of a two-way amendment of the constitution which would allow Hrawi to run for a second term, and open the way for military officers and civil servants to become candidates. Murr was reported by Lebanon's Future News to have said later that his statements about modifying the constitution were exaggerated by the press.

Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Parliament expressed lack of awareness of any proposed modification to the constitution, and said that the parliament have not been presented for approval such a resolution.

The constitution presently forbids a president from running for two successive terms. It also stipulates that civil servants, judges and military officers must resign two years ahead of elections if they wish to run for the presidency.

Murr said on Monday that a dual amendment would "open the door for all candidates" to run in the elections, "and foremost to president Hrawi."

However Murr on Tuesday said he was "expressing his personal opinion" when he said he supported a dual amendment, accusing reporters of blowing his statements out of proportion.

"The aim was not... to open the presidential battle," he said. "I think it is still early to discuss candidates and names."

North Lebanon Deputy Boutros Harb said after a meeting with Hrawi Tuesday that the president was "surprised" by what he read in the papers with regards to constitutional amendments because he had not discussed the matter with minister Murr.

Previous Stories:
  Minister launches presidential race, Hariri: Unanimity of Lebanese required   (3/10/1998)
  Municipal elections to be held in spring   (1/5/1998)
  Reactions to Hrawi's call for early election   (10/23/1997)

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