Sfeir: Constitutional Amendment Better than Vacuum

Source: Al-Manar TV, 9-12-2007
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir said that a constitutional amendment to allow the election of army commander general Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president is better than a political vacuum.
"The Lebanese are waiting impatiently for the presidential election process to end despite all hardships," Sfeir said during his Sunday sermon. He said that all Lebanese are waiting for presidential elections "which would give them what they want - peace and security. If the constitution must be amended, it's okay. Amendment is better than vacuum."
Parliament is scheduled to meet Tuesday to vote for a new president. For Suleiman to be elected, the Parliament will have to amend the constitution, which prevents senior state employees, including army commanders, from running for the post while in office. Lebanon has been suffering from presidential vacuum since 24th of November when the term of former President Emile Lahhoud had ended.