Lebanese MPs fail to choose president for 18th time

Lebanese MPs yesterday failed to elect a new president for the 18th time as a main bloc of legislators maintained their boycott of the vote, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the presidential vote to choose a successor to former President Michel Suleiman to 18 February.  Suleiman’s six-year term ended in late May last year.

The failure to choose the new president was attributed to the shortfall of the required two-thirds majority, 86 MPs, to agree on the president.

According to the constitution, the parliament is able to choose a Maronite Christian without running for presidency.

The main powers in the parliament are divided between the 14 March Movement, which supports the Syrian rebels, and 8 March Movement, which supports the Syrian regime. The other main power consists of the centrists headed by Walid Jumblatt and former Prime Minister Najib Mikati.