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Lebanon can't continue without president: PM

Xinhua, February 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam reiterated Wednesday that the current disruption in governmental work will not be corrected except by electing a new president.

In a speech he delivered during the opening of the Arab Forum on Food Safety and Quality, Salam said the obstacles standing in the way of government work and the debate over its mechanism are the result of failing to elect a president.

"A country without a president is just like a deformed body," he said, adding that "I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate calls to elect a new president in order to restore our constitutional life."

On Feb. 18, for the 19th consecutive time, the Lebanese Parliament failed to elect a new president, as the constitutionally required quorum is still lacking due to the continuing boycott of Hezbollah MPs and the representatives of the Free Patriotic Movement of MP Michel Aoun.

Lebanon's constitution stipulates that two third of the 128 parliament members should be present to elect a president in the first round of voting, and a simple majority for the following round.

The country has been without a president since former President Michel Suleiman's tenure ended on May 25, 2014. Endit