– Speaker Nabih Berri has called a session of the National Assembly on 9 January to elect a new president of the republic, reports the Lebanese state news agency NNA on Thursday.
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun’s presidency ended in October two years ago. At the same time, neither of the two largest blocs in the National Assembly – neither Hezbollah nor the militia’s opponents – has the majority needed to elect a successor. The politicians have not been able to agree either.
As the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah became a reality on Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said he hoped the country would now be able to elect a new president.
Berri, who is leading the ceasefire talks on behalf of ally Hezbollah, also called on the country to “quickly elect a president”.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said earlier in November that the militia would contribute effectively to electing a new president when the war is over.
In Lebanon, the presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian, while the post of prime minister belongs to a Sunni Muslim and the leader of the national assembly is a Shia Muslim.
Read also: Hedvig Montgomery: – It creates problems when parents snoop on their children (+)
Read also: This is how Proud Boys are quietly changing America (+)
Read also: There has been no shortage of warnings about how badly things could go with Marius