FPM says presidential vacuum 'normalization' threatens 'partnership'

The Free Patriotic Movement said Wednesday in a statement that "the behavior of some parliamentary blocs and political forces suggests that they are pushing for normalizing the presidential vacuum that might expand to first-class positions that have traditionally been occupied by Christians."

"This threatens national partnership," the statement went on to say.

The FPM held parliament responsible for electing a president, through dialogue and agreement or through voting "and whoever has the majority wins."

Mired in a crippling economic crisis since 2019, Lebanon has been governed by a caretaker cabinet for more than a year and without a president for more than eight months.

No group has a clear majority in parliament and lawmakers have failed 12 times to elect a new president, amid bitter divisions.

The FPM ministers have been boycotting the caretaker cabinet sessions, claiming that cabinet can not convene without a president.