Criteria for next Lebanese president set

A well-informed political source in Beirut said that specifications of the next Lebanese president had been determined by two influences. The first is regional, which is Syria and the second is international, namely the US.

The sources asserted to the office of the Saudi daily al-Riyadh in Beirut that the current Lebanese president, Elias Hrawi, will not extend his term of office. The source added that the specifications for the next Lebanese president as set by the Syrian and US sides are not applied to a vast group of Maronite candidates who voice total loyalty for Syria. Lebanon is struggling to find appropriate Lebanese presidential candidates that would be satisfactory to the various religious, political and other powers in Lebanon.

Among them are several current Lebanese Cabinet ministers, including Minister of Education Jan Obeid, Minister of Water Resources and Electricity Elias Houbeika and Minister of Interior Michael Murr. The source added that such characteristics are applicable to other possible candidates, foremost being commander of the Lebanese army Lt. Gen. Emil Lahoud. Lebanon's constituation has provisions that prevent military leaders from running for public office to prevent conflict of interest and for maintaining civilian control over the military. There is talk of modifying these constitutional provisions as a result of the exceptional period that Lebanon is undergoing to allow Lahoud and others to be able to become presidential candidates.

Lahoud is not opposed by Syria. He, in addition, is welcomed by key international forces, foremost the US.