Summary
MP Walid Jumblatt Monday pleaded with rival politicians to reach a compromise over the election of president as the only way to end the presidential vacuum, which has entered its third year with no solution in sight, given lingering internal differences and regional complications.
Last week, Parliament failed for the 42nd time over more than two years to convene to elect a president due to a lack of quorum, prompting Berri to set a new session for Aug. 8 . Lawmakers from MP Michel Aoun's bloc, Hezbollah's bloc and some of its March 8 allies have been boycotting the electoral sessions, thus preventing a quorum.
There are two main candidates for the presidency: Aoun and Marada Movement leader MP Sleiman Frangieh.
Aoun and Frangieh are two of the four main Maronite leaders in contention for the presidency.
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi called for confronting the financial crisis with the election of a president and distancing Lebanon from regional conflicts.
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