UN chief urges early election of president in Lebanon

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday welcomed the conduct of the municipal elections in Lebanon which are expected to conclude on May 29.

Meanwhile, Ban reiterated his call on all Lebanese leaders "to act responsibly to elect a president without any further delay in accordance with the country's Constitution" in Lebanon, a country without a president since May 2014.

Farhan Haq, the deputy UN spokesman, said at a daily news briefing here that Ban regarded the municipal elections in Lebanon as "a testament to Lebanon's enduring democratic tradition and further proof that the people of Lebanon deserve to be represented at all levels."

"The secretary-general remains concerned about the continuing failure of Lebanese political parties to elect a president of the republic, a post which has now remained vacant for two years," Haq said.

"As the secretary-general said during his recent visit to Lebanon, national unity and Lebanon's standing will remain fragile and incomplete as long as the vacancy in the presidency persists," he said.

Earlier this month, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, welcomed the May 8 launch of the municipal elections in Lebanon.

She commended the successful preparation and organization by the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, and the provision of security by the Lebanese Armed Forces and other security forces.

On May 8, the Lebanese headed to the municipal polls scheduled every six years in its first leg taking place in Beirut and the Bekaa region.

When visiting Lebanon in late March, the secretary-general urged political powers to end the presidential vacuum "as soon as possible" in Lebanon.

"Lebanon is a symbol of diversity in the region and the presidential vacuum should be resolved as soon as possible," Ban said.

In March this year, the Lebanese parliament failed again and for the 37th time in a row to elect a president to replace Michel Suleiman whose term ended on May 25, 2014. Endit