MPs meet to elect president, clash over 'constitutionality' and foreign interference
Parliament convened Thursday in a session that could see army chief Joseph Aoun elected as president following a vacancy of more than two years.
Before starting to vote, MPs made fiery statements with some of them engaging in verbal clashes over foreign interference in the elections and the unconstitutionality of electing Aoun.
The constitution stipulates that presidential candidates should not have held high public office for the past two years, which would technically disqualify Aoun.
70 ambassadors, including ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Iran, the U.S., and France attended the session at the invitation of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. Members of the Quintet — France, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt — have been working for months to facilitate the election of a president.
Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil said before the vote that all votes for Aoun should be considered "spoiled" since the sitting army commander is technically barred from becoming president by Lebanon's constitution.
Bassil said a president is being imposed by foreign forces. So did independent MP Oussama Saad and change MP Halima Qaaqour, who said no Iranian, Syrian or American interference is accepted. Saad accused the U.S. of being complicit in the Israeli war against Lebanon and of trying to impose a candidate.
Aoun has close ties with the U.S., the main financial backer of Lebanon's army, and is also reportedly supported by France and Saudi Arabia.
All 128 members of the legislature were present for the vote Thursday. Aoun failed the first round of voting, garnering only 71 votes, short of the required 86.
Under normal circumstances, a presidential candidate in Lebanon can be elected by a two-thirds majority of the 128-member house in the first round of voting, or by a simple majority in a subsequent round.
But because of the constitutional issues surrounding his election, Aoun would need a two-thirds majority even in the second round.
