Election Crisis in Lebanon: Efforts to End Presidential Vacancy and Restore Hope for Economic Reforms

2023-06-23 14:24:07

Since the end of former President Michel Aoun’s term at the end of October, parliament has failed 12 times to elect a president, amid an intensifying political division between Hezbollah and its opponents. No party has a majority that enables it alone to bring its candidate to the position.

On Wednesday, Le Drian arrived in Beirut, where he will meet officials and politicians, as part of efforts led by Paris to end the presidential vacancy in Lebanon.

On Friday, the ambassadors of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar met with the five countries that participated in a meeting on Lebanon held on February 6 in Paris.

“They agreed on the need to elect without delay a president for Lebanon in preparation for embarking on economic and social reforms within the framework of a program for the advancement (of the country)” in exchange for assistance from the International Monetary Fund, the diplomatic source told AFP.

For months, the country has been running a caretaker government that is unable to take necessary decisions, while the international community requires urgent reforms in order to provide financial support that helps Lebanon rise from its chronic economic predicament.

And to the main political leaders and representatives of parties, especially Hezbollah, Le Drian met with a number of deputies in an attempt to “immediately get out of the political impasse and then consider a reform agenda in order for Lebanon to restore vitality and hope,” he said.

He also held talks with presidential candidates, and on Friday he will meet with Army Commander General Joseph Aoun, who is considered one of the names in circulation for the presidency.

On Thursday, the envoy affirmed that his visit aims to “listen (…) and conduct the necessary consultations with all parties,” stressing that “the solution begins with the Lebanese.”

© 2023 AFP

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