Lebanon MPs fail to elect new president on third try
Only 73 lawmakers attended the session, falling short of the required two-thirds to hold a vote in the 128 member Parliament
Lebanon’s parliament speaker postponed Wednesday for a second time a session to elect a new president due to a lack of quorum.
Only 73 lawmakers, the majority from the Western-backed March 14 coalition, attended the session, falling short of the required two-thirds to hold a vote in the 128 member Parliament.
This is the third time that politicians have failed to name a replacement for President Michel Sleiman whose term ends on May 25. Boycotting politicians from the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance have scuppered two attempts to hold the vote.
Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned Wednesday’s session to May 15.
The parliament has a constitutional deadline of two months – from March 25 to May 25 - to elect the next head of state.
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