Lebanon fails again to elect new president due to partial boycott

The Lebanese parliament failed for the 20th consecutive time Wednesday to elect a new president due to the lack of the constitutional required quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session and called for a new meeting on April 2nd, after only 54 parliamentarians were present, while the constitution stipulates that the needed quorum is two third of the 128-member parliament.

Lebanon has been without a President since May 25 when the six year term of former President Michel Suleiman ended.

"Political regime is under danger with the critical regional developments", MP Boutros Harb warned after the session was adjourned, "we will ask the public to move against the current situation if it persists."

For his part, al-Mustaqbal movement MP Ahmad Fatfat lamented the "same parliamentarians who are boycotting the parliament sessions", calling his fellow MPs "to be up to the responsibility and participate in the presidential elections and abide by the democratic results."

MP Atef Majdalani accused following the failed session "a group of deputies disrupting the election of a new president", describing such practices as "wrong and dangerous" because they violate the constitution, block the election of a president and obstruct the work of all constitutional institutions.

Lebanon is divided between two rival political camps, the western backed "March 14" with its Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea running for the post, and the Syrian-Iranian backed "March 8" camp backing MP Michel Aoun for the post.

The centrist Democratic Gathering announced the candidacy of its member MP Henri Helou as a consensual candidate to the presidency. Endit