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Lebanon fails again to elect a new president

Xinhua, October 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Lebanese parliament failed on Wednesday for the 30th consecutive time in convening to elect a new president due to the same old reason, the lack of the constitutionally required quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri called for a new electoral session on November 11th.

A total of 49 lawmakers attended Wednesday's session, while 86 lawmakers are needed for the elections to be held.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the six-year term of former President Michel Suleiman ended without the election of successor.

The sharp political division between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate has thwarted the polls.

The March 14 camp back the candidacy of Lebanese Force leader Samir Geagea while the March 8 camp back the election of Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to the post.

The centrist Demcratic Gathering led by Walid Jumblatt announced the candidacy of Henri Helou to the post.

According to the constitution, two thirds of the 128-seat parliament should be present at the house to achieve the quorum and proceed with the election.

According to the power sharing pact the president should be a Christian Maronite while the speaker should be a Muslim Shiite and the premier a Muslim Sunni.

The presidential vacuum has hindered the government's ability to tackle growing security, economic and social problems. Endit