ISG urges Lebanon leaders, MPs to elect president without further delay
Taking note of the June 14 botched presidential vote, the International Support Group (ISG) said it regrets that Lebanon has yet to elect a president after 12 inconclusive presidential election sessions.
“After eight months with neither a president nor a fully functioning government, the ISG is deeply concerned that the current political stalemate is exacerbating the erosion of state institutions and undermining Lebanon’s ability to address the country’s pressing socioeconomic, financial, security and humanitarian challenges,” the ISG said in a statement.
“For the sake of the Lebanese people and the stability of the country, the ISG urges the political leadership and Members of Parliament to assume their responsibilities and prioritize the national interest by electing a new President without further delay,” it urged.
The ISG warned that any continuation of the “unsustainable status quo” will only further prolong and complicate “Lebanon’s recovery and compound the hardships faced by the people.”
The ISG also urged the authorities to “expedite the adoption and implementation of “a comprehensive and inclusive reform agenda to put the country on a path to recovery and sustainable development,” while reassuring that it “continues to stand by Lebanon and its people.”
The International Support Group has brought together the United Nations and the governments of China, France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union and the Arab League. It was launched in September 2013 by the U.N. Secretary-General with former President Michel Suleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions.
Source: Naharnet
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