Al-Rahi: Lebanon Has Been Deprived of President for Factional Reasons
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi lamented on Thursday the ongoing vacancy in the presidency, urging lawmakers to exercise their duty and elect a president.
He said: “Lebanon has been deprived of a president for factional reasons.”
He made his remarks during a mass marking the eleventh anniversary of the inauguration of the patriarchate garden in al-Diman.
“The vacuum is a blow to Lebanese dignity and Lebanon's constitution,” declared the patriarch.
Al-Rahi prayed that political powers “would bring joy to the people with the election of a president and resolution of pending disputes.”
He also hoped that public officials would perform their duties “selflessly and steer away from corruption.”
Lebanon has been without a president since May when the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May.
Parliament has failed to elect his successor due to lingering disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate.
Several elections sessions have been staged, but they were not held due to a boycott of the majority of March 8 blocs.
M.T.
Y.R.
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