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Lebanon's presidential election postponed again

Xinhua, August 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Lebanon's Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Monday the country has failed to elect a new president again following a lack of quorum at parliament.

The next presidential electoral session is scheduled for Sept. 7, according to Berri.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014, when former President Michel Suleiman ended his tenure without a successor.

Political disputes between rival camps March 8, backed by Iran and Syria, and March 14, ally of Saudi Arabia and the West, have since kept thwarting the presidential elections.

On the issue of presidency, March 14 shows support for Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea while March 8 favors Change and Reform bloc leader Michel Aoun.

Meanwhile, Future Movement, the largest member of March 14, suggested Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh for the presidency to break the deadlocks.

Only 31 parliamentary members showed up at Monday's session, far below the two thirds of the 128-seat parliament required.

According to the power sharing act, the Lebanese president must be a Christian Maronite, the Speaker a Muslim Shiite and the prime minister a Muslim Sunni.

In the absence of a president, the cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam, is running the country. Endit