Lebanon to Elect President on Monday Ending Two-Year Vacuum

BEIRUT- Lebanon’s parliament is set to end more than two years of stalemate on Monday October 31 by electing founder of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun as president amid political divisions.

Lebanese Army, Resistance Enabled Election of Lebanon President

A senior Hezbollah official said Saturday that the sacrifices made by the Lebanese Army and Hezbollah resistance movement facilitated the election of a new head of state, according to the “Daily Star”.

The deputy head of the party’s executive council Sheikh Nabil Qaouk said at a memorial held in the area of Burj al-Shemali in the southern city of Tyre that the “military and resistance protected Lebanon from ISIS and Nusra [Front]” threats.

 Qaouk downplayed rumors that ties with Amal Movement were deteriorating due to the presidential crisis.

“The upcoming stage in Lebanon will prove the solid strategic alliance between Hezbollah and Amal,” the official said.

Hezbollah backs the founder of Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun for the presidency, while Speaker Nabih Berri, the head of Amal, vowed to vote against Aoun in Monday’s election session.

Berri: We support Franjieh’s candidacy

According to the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA), Speaker Berri on Saturday headed noon a meeting to “Development and Liberation” parliamentary bloc members to discuss their position towards the parliamentary session to elect a president on Monday.

After the meeting, MP Anwar El-Khalil announced the bloc’s position in which he stressed their keenness to secure the quorum for the scheduled parliamentary session, confirming the bloc’s support to MP Sleiman Franjieh.

On the 46th try, Lebanon looks poised to get a new president

Lebanon’s lengthy impasse over electing a new president appeared to be almost over after Saad Hariri, a former prime minister, made a decision to support founder of Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun for the presidency, media outlets reported.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014, when the former president Michel Suleiman stepped down at the end of his six-year term. The absence of a head of state has been costly, not only hampering parliament’s ability to pass legislation and hold elections but causing economic deterioration and underperforming state institutions.

H.M