The formation of a new government has so far failed due to power struggles within the political elite. Meanwhile, the population has been suffering from the worst economic crisis in the country’s history for more than three years.
The parliament in the capital Beirut has again failed to elect a president for the country.
(dpa)
In Lebanon, the election of a president has failed for the fifth time. The country remains stuck in a political vacuum that could last for months. In a vote in parliament on Thursday, no candidate received the required majority. Almost 50 of the 108 MPs present cast blank ballots. There was no second ballot because not enough parliamentarians were present. Parliament wants to try again in a week.
The Mediterranean country has been suffering from the worst economic crisis in its history for more than three years. It was exacerbated by the corona pandemic and the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020. Three quarters of the population live in poverty. The currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value. Inflation is at 150 percent. Because of the poor infrastructure, many Lebanese have to live without electricity for many hours a day.
The previous president, Michel Aoun, left office as planned at the end of October after the end of his term of office. The government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati has only been in office since the parliamentary elections in May and is therefore only able to act to a limited extent. The formation of a new government has so far failed due to power struggles within the country’s political elite.
Country previously without a president
In multi-confessional Lebanon, power has been divided according to a proportional system for decades. The president is always a Christian, the head of government a Sunni and the speaker of the parliament a Shia. The Shiite Hezbollah, which has its own militia and is allied with Iran, plays a particularly influential role.
Even before Aoun’s election, Lebanon had not had a president for two and a half years. Before the ex-general received the required majority in October 2016, 45 attempts had failed because the parties could not agree on a candidate.
Many Lebanese see the political elite as a corrupt “government mafia” that enriches itself. The government has so far failed to make important reforms to alleviate the crisis.