Al-Rahi from Paris: No Justification for Failure to Elect President
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi condemned on Sunday lawmakers' ongoing failure to elect a new president, warning of the collapse of the Lebanese state.
He said during his Sunday sermon from Our Lady of Lebanon church in the French capital Paris: “There are no justifications for the failure to elect a president.”
The sermon was attended by Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, Education Minister Elias Bou Saab, and other officials.
Al-Rahi continued: “We demand all political blocs to assume their responsibilities and elect a president.”
“The elections should be staged before the collapse that will harm us all,” he warned.
The patriarch kicked off his visit to France on Saturday.
He is expected to hold talks on Monday with President Francois Hollande.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 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 election.
Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance and MP Michel Aoun's Change and Reform blocs have been boycotting the polls over the dispute.
M.T.
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