Lebanon Fails To Appoint President To Replace Outgoing Michel Aoun
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Roshan Amiri
- . September 29, 2022
- . Update: September 30, 2022 10:31 pm
In the most surprising turn of events, Lebanese parliament has failed to elect a new president in its first round of voting. While the most formidable choice came out to be MP Michel Moawad, he did not get a majority vote.
With 36 on his side, 63 remained blank as well. Moawad seems to have the maximum votes from the opposition. His comment was enough to prove that he wanted unify the opposition. His father has a history and lineage of having served as president for 18 days in the 1980s before being assassinated.
Lebanon is suffering under bad political decisions and terrible economic conditions due to a functioning government missing. Electing a president in Lebanon is often a drawn-out affair. It took 46 sessions and 29 months for Parliament to elect Mr. Aoun in 2016. In the country’s confessional system, the presidency is always held by a Maronite Christian.
Mr. Aoun’s term ends on October 31. Before that, it would be appropriate to find someone to fill his shoes. Else a political vacuum is bound to hit the country, yet again. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said he would call another session to vote “when there is consensus”.
Read | Will Lebanon Have A Stable Government Ever?
Mohammad Raad, head of the political bloc of Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, said parliamentary factions are in the “early stages” of finding a head of state who would “bring stability to the country”.
“The blocs need to discuss and develop an understanding over a possible consensus candidate,” he said after the meeting.
Before Lebanon’s current president Michel Aoun calls it a day on October 31, he along with PM designate Najib Mikati have reassured the masses that a government formation is on the horizon.
But the fact is, there is no progress to show. Blame has been placed on Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system. Even in recent meetings with EU ambassadors, Mr. Aoun had reaffirmed his commitment to forming a government that would assume presidential powers in the event of a vacancy.
