Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir remained neutral about the presidency issue on Tuesday, during a busy day of meetings with numerous Christian politicians. Sfeir will preside Wednesday over the monthly meeting of the Maronite Bishops Council. Dory Chamoun, the head of the National Liberal Party, said he was opposed to any nomination of a military figure to the presidency, adding that "[President Emile] Lahoud's extended presidency is not constitutional because he altered the Constitution to remain in power." Chamoun said Lahoud should resign before things get worse for the post of the presidency, and for the Maronite community that controls it. "The president is currently very isolated with no visitors coming to Baabda," he added. "This worsening situation will hamper the presidency and make it ineffective." According to Chamoun, Lahoud must learn from the history of his predecessors. "Former President Bshara Khoury, who was stronger and more popular than Lahoud, put the country's interest above his personal concerns and resigned," he said.
Metn MP Michel Murr said that he discussed the presidency and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun's candidacy with Sfeir, but stressed that a presidential race will not be launched while Lahoud remains in office. "We always consult with the patriarch on all national issues and we believe he can act as a national reference because of his balanced and neutral positions regarding major issues," he said.
Murr supports Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun for the post, as "Aoun left the military a long time ago and has proven to be a popular politician. "Being a member of the Change and Reform bloc," he added, "I support Michel Aoun's stance that the president is neither ousted in the street nor by the Constitution. He can only resign if he wishes to do so." According to Murr, the patriarch will not nominate any specific candidate. "He stands at the same distance from all Christian leaders and figures," he said.
Asked about his family's ties to the president, Murr said his personal relations with Lahoud were stronger than his political bond. "Despite our close ties, which we value and respect highly, we might disagree on many political issues. Moreover, my son's views as a defense minister have nothing to do with being [Lahoud's] son-in-law." Murr also slammed the campaign to oust Lahoud from office as being "all wrong because those who launched it resorted to personal name-calling that made the president more stubborn in refusing to leave until the last day." However, he lauded the decision to let Christian leaders handle the presidency, despite "our strong belief the presidency belongs to all sects and religious groups." Murr also did not see any good coming from a Christian meeting with Sfeir to discuss the presidency, noting that not all Christians are Maronites.