The Lebanese parliament failed again today and for the 31st time in a row to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman whose term ended on May 25 last year.
As in the past sessions the parliament was unable to reach a quorum because the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group and its ally MP Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc MPs boycotted the session.
Speaker Nabih Berri a key ally of Hezbollah postponed the election to to December 2 .
Iran is being blamed for the presidential vacuum by Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who was the first to announce his presidential candidacy.
The head of the Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel warned of the “growing sectarian divisions in Lebanon over the frequent constitutional violations.”
Gemayel said after the session: “We oppose violation of the constitution and we will confront all settlements made at the expense of the election of a president.”
“It is a shame that the election of a president is not a priority in Lebanon,” he lamented.
“It seems that officials are most concerned with making money and they are neglecting the country’s needs,” he said.
“Leaving the country without a president is leading to chaos and severe divisions that are beginning to emerge,” he remarked, while warning that Lebanon could be heading towards civil war if the situation persists.
“We reject settlements made at the expense of Lebanon, its president, and constitution,” the MP declared angrily.
Commenting on Thursday’s legislative session, which his party is boycotting, he said: “We would love to attend any legislative session, but the law does not allow us to do so.”
“The law demands that we elect a president before doing anything else,” he stressed.
“Instead of creating more divisions and violating more laws, officials should elect a new president,” he stated, while slamming the “so-called legislation of necessity” that is endorsed by the Free Patriotic Movement.
The legislative session is set for Thursday and Friday.
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