BEIRUT: Crisis-stricken lawmakers Despite the worsening effects of the political impasse on the nation’s economic troubles, Lebanon’s attempt to elect a new president failed for the eighth time on Thursday.
President Michel Aoun left office at the end of October without a replacement, leaving Lebanon without a head of state for a month.
The influential Hezbollah movement is supported by Iran and has a sizable following in parliament, but neither side has a clear majority.
The backing of 37 parliamentarians fell far short of the necessary majority on Thursday for the pro-US lawmaker Michel Moawad, and 52 spoilt ballots, mostly from lawmakers who favor Hezbollah, were cast.
Only 111 of the 128 members of parliament were present for the voting.
One mock vote was cast for the leftist candidate for president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, by certain lawmakers.
Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Habchi made the accusation that the parliament is “not shouldering its obligations” in light of its opposition to Hezbollah.
Political horse trading can last for months or even years before a president is chosen, a prime minister is named, and a government is formed.
With its currency in free decline, major electricity shortages, and skyrocketing poverty rates, Lebanon’s financial crisis—dubbed by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history—cannot afford a protracted power void.
The interim administration of the nation is unable to implement the extensive reforms required by foreign lenders in order to release billions of dollars in rescue money.
Moawad’s candidacy is opposed by Hezbollah, and the organization’s head and supporter of Iran, Hassan Nasrallah, called for a president who is prepared to challenge the United States last month.
Moawad, who enjoys close ties to Washington, has frequently demanded that Hezbollah, the only group to retain its arsenal following the conclusion of Lebanon’s 1975–1990 civil war, be disarmed.
Following a more than two-year period with no president, the former president Aoun was elected himself in 2016 after 45 failed attempts by lawmakers to agree on his candidacy.
Conventionally, a Maronite Christian holds the presidency of Lebanon, a Sunni Muslim holds the position of prime minister, and a Shiite Muslim holds the position of speaker of parliament.
On December 8, Parliament is anticipated to meet to attempt to pick a president once more.
Source: AFP