Al-Rahi Reiterates Calls on MPs to End Prolonged Presidential Vacuum

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi reiterated calls on Sunday on lawmakers to attend parliament sessions and elect a new head of state.

“The people are suffering on all levels” due to the ongoing vacuum at the Baabda Palace, al-Rahi said during his Sunday sermon at Bkirki.

He urged MPs to carry out their duties towards the Lebanese people.

“The Lebanese people, who according to the Constitution is the source of all power carried out at state institutions, tasked you with these duties,” al-Rahi continued.

Al-Rahi said that after “11-month vacuum at the presidential post, it is time for the parliament to carry out its most important and basic duty.”

Vacuum striking the presidential post is having a tough impact on the cabinet and the parliament as the state is threatened with further crises over ongoing rows between the political arch-foes.

MPs failed on several occasions to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum. President Michel Suleiman's term ended in May without the election of a successor.

Hizbullah and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform bloc have been boycotting electoral sessions due to a disagreement with the March 14 camp over a compromise presidential candidate.