The region’s tragic situation and international interests should convince political parties to assume their responsibility instead of “laying blame on each other”. The failure to elect a new head of state has crippled the normal functioning of the government and parliament.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – Given the dramatic situation in the region, Lebanese political parties must elect a new president to fill the vacuum that threatens the country.

At the end of its monthly meeting, the Maronite Bishops Council (pictured) yesterday reiterated the need to fill the presidential vacuum to enable Lebanon to confront regional dangers.

In a statement, the country’s Maronite bishops warned Lebanese political leaders that their failure to elect a new head of state, after President Michel Suleiman’s term of office ended in May 2014, has placed the country in grave danger.

 “These dangers,” the Council said, “as well as international interests in Lebanon, due to its cultural and religious diversity, should prompt officials to elect a president.” Indeed, “The successful elections will restore normalcy to the republic”.

“Political blocs should assume their responsibilities and sense the dangers lurking in the region instead of laying blame on each other,” it added.

According to the Lebanese constitution, the president must be a Christian, but the two main Christian parties are aligned with opposite camps, the ‘March 14’ alliance and the ‘March 8’ bloc, and have not been able to come up with a mutually acceptable candidate.

Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform Party and its Hezbollah ally continue to boycott parliamentary sessions aimed at electing the new president. This in turn has crippled the normal functioning of government and Parliament.

• lebanon
• presidential
• election
• maronite
• bishops