Presidential Elections Postponed to November 11 as Saniora Warns of 'State's Disintegration'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The presidential elections were postponed on Wednesday for the 30th time following a lack of quorum at parliament.
Speaker Nabih Berri set the new session for November 11.
A total of 49 lawmakers attended Wednesday's session, while 86 MPs are needed for the elections to be held.
Following the failed session, head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora warned that the “failure to elect a president is leading Lebanon towards further disintegration, especially on the economic level.”
“Those obstructing the elections are responsible for the current state of affairs in Lebanon,” he declared from parliament.
“Electing a head of state is key to reaching a solution to major problems in Lebanon,” he stressed.
“The polls should not be linked to regional affairs and we need to elect a president who not only represents his background, but other Lebanese communities,” added the MP.
“The president is the symbol of Lebanon's unity and the unity of its people,” Saniora stated.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of successor.
Numerous electoral sessions have been scheduled, all but one were postponed over a lack of quorum.
Disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.
There are several candidates but none of them is willing to make compromises that would allow lawmakers to attend a session aimed at electing a head of state.
The presidential vacuum has hindered the government's ability to tackle growing security, economic and social problems.
M.T.
D.A.
21 October 2015, 13:50
10
Noooo waaaaay.. whyyyy? (says the Lebanese who just came back from a 20 year trip to Mars)
21 October 2015, 13:51
10
nooooo waaaay! whyyyyyyy?? (says the Lebanese who just came back from a 20 year trip to Mars)
21 October 2015, 14:31
55
Only one person is blocking the presidential elections. By doing this he is destroying everything that was built during the past 100 years.
21 October 2015, 14:51
35
why sotp at 100 years? i'd say he is destroying everything that was built by morons and thieves during the last 1,000 years, and even 10,000 years
21 October 2015, 19:02
21
M14 have no balls or courage. They even sent him special messengers to find arrangements...how can they find arrangements with someone who is tied with Syria and Iran, who has received 100's of millions from Ebola to whom he is an obedient khadim, who rejects all declarations he has signed (Baabda + Bkerke) who one day rejects Taef and accepts it another day, who threatens the General of the Army, who is ready to accept a "Mutelateh", who defends his own interests and those of his family above those of the general interest of the country, who has given "one way tickets", who is psychotic, neurasthenic, and mentally ill....
You are right: M14 is a club....a very weak club...!!!
Still, that is not an enough good reason to bring a Madman to a top job in Lebanon.
My candidates are Samir Frangieh, Ziad Baroud, Qahwaji, Dory Chamoun (iben 3ayleh), Neemat Frem.
21 October 2015, 15:47
51
Isn't it about time that you stopped this farce, and decided that the next session will elect a president no matter what number of members of parliament are present. There will be no need to be any specific number to form a quorum.
