March 14 Delegation in Bkirki Tuesday to Announce Stance against Presidential Vacuum

The seat of the Maronite patriarchate of Bkirki is expected to witness a “demonstration” by March 14 lawmakers aimed at voicing their condemnation of the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, reported the daily al-Mustaqbal on Sunday.

The meeting at Bkirki will be crowned with a speech by Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi during which he will urge officials to elect a new head of state, parliamentary sources from the Mustaqbal bloc told the daily.

Representatives of the various participating parliamentary blocs will also deliver speeches on the occasion.

Al-Rahi had on Saturday reiterated his condemnation of the lawmakers' ongoing failure to elect a president.

“A body without a head will lead to its death,” he warned during a visit of the district of Batroun.

“We cannot accept the fragmentation of our nation as a result of the absence of a head of state,” he added.

He said it is “shameful” that a year has passed since the presidential vacuum began.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 24, 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.

M.T.