Presidential Elections Postponed again, New Session Set for September

The 43rd session to elect a president was postponed on Monday following a renewed lack of quorum at parliament.

Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled the new electoral session for September 7.

“According to the Lebanese constitution the deputies are obliged to attend the election sessions at the parliament. Deputies have no right to absent themselves,” head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora stressed from the parliament.

On reports that the bloc had voted a day earlier on adopting the nomination of Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun, Saniora reiterated his bloc's support of Marada Movement MP Suleiman Franjieh, he said: “The bloc did not vote on the nomination of Aoun. Each member gave his own opinion and we adhere to Franjieh's nomination.”

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

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps have thwarted the polls that are being contested between Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, and Democratic Gathering MP Henri Helou.