Beirut, 15.12. (Prensa Latina) Lebanon will bid farewell to 2022 without a President of the Republic after the tenth session of Parliament to elect the new head of state failed today.
As with the previous ones, no candidate achieved the required majority of 65 votes, and the head of the legislature, Nabih Berri, adjourned the plenary session without announcing the date for the next call for proposals.
A total of 109 MPs attended the session and again MP Michel Moawad led the preferences with 38 ballots in his favour, one more than those left blank; while the rest of the votes supported different names and three documents were invalidated.
The meeting was guided by President Berri’s failed attempt at dialogue, which faced rejection from the main Christian parties, the Free Patriotic Current and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
According to local reports, the tenth call to elect the next president of the republic was the last of the year and a return to the legislature is not expected before January 10.
Faced with the extension of the vacancy in office, Interim Prime Minister Najib Miqati reiterated the government’s constitutional, national and moral obligation to continue working to manage state affairs and deal with urgent cases.
The chief of staff urged everyone to approach national issues responsibly, away from stubbornness, arrogance and trying to hold the country hostage to political considerations.
Since last September 29, faced with the lack of political consensus and deteriorating living conditions, Lebanon has been trying to appoint the new representative of the Maronite Christian community as head of state.
After six years in power, Michel Aoun ended his mandate on October 31 and the nation of cedars faces the fourth constitutional loophole after independence.
mem/yma