Source: almanar.com.lb, 17-6-2-009

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Wednesday he was a natural candidate for speakership, saying that the speakership is a constitutional responsibility governed by law.
Speaking to reporters from the Baabda Presidential Palace where he held a meeting with President Michel Suleiman, Berri emphasized that a date for the election of the speaker cannot be set before midnight Saturday.

Berri called for a national unity cabinet that doesn't distinguish between March 8 and 14, recalling that controversial issues should be discussed at the dialogue table. "I am seeking since the end of the elections to have a national government that doesn't distinguish between March 8 and 14 forces," he said.

Asked about his candidate for the post of Premier, Berri said that he has already nominated the head of the Future movement MP Saad Hariri for the post. He noted, meanwhile, that state institutions should be allowed to work for the citizen's interest based on the Taef accord.
Asked about the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun demands for proportional representation in cabinet, Berri noted that everything is solved through dialogue. "General Aoun said he will participate and this is a positive step," he pointed out.

BERRI CERTAIN HE WILL WIN ANOTHER TERM IN OFFICE
Meanwhile, Speaker Nabih Berri seems to be the only candidate for the position of Speaker. His nomination is supported not only by the opposition various parliamentary blocs but also by the main loyalty ones such as the Future movement of MP Saad Hariri and the Democratic Gathering of MP Walid Jumblatt.

According to Lebanese daily As-Safir, Berri is comfortable since he is certain he will win another term in office with a 70-vote majority at least (57 from the opposition, 11 from the Democratic Gathering bloc, two from former PM Najib Miqati's and MP Michel Murr). And if MPs Mohammad Safadi, Qassem Abdel Aziz, Michel Faraon and Nicola Fattoush cast their ballots in favor of Berri, then the votes would rise to 74. Votes from Hariri's parliamentary bloc would ensure Berri's re-election by nearly 100 votes.