"Through blind obedience to their leaders, the MPs of the nation are refraining from electing a president, favoring instead the growing collapse of the constitutional and public institutions, injustice against the people and forcing the best of our skilled labor to experience the bitterness of emigration," al-Rahi said in his Sunday Mass sermon.
"Isn’t this high treason? Isn’t it rather a great crime against the Lebanese people and state?" al-Rahi added.
"They are speaking of the need for dialogue in order to reach a consensual candidate, while some are clinging to their candidate and want to impose him on others and other parties are holding onto the veto right against the nomination of many eligible candidates," the patriarch lamented.
Accordingly, al-Rahi said dialogue needs to be based on "the situation of
...The land area formerly occupied by the state of Lebanon, before that Phoenicia...and the Lebanese."
"The best and most appropriate candidate for this situation must be sought," the patriarch added, calling for rising above "selfishness" and "partisan interests."