Lebanon’s presidential vacuum puts the onus on parliament

The former president Michel Aoun, who resigned at the end of October 2022, has been the subject of repeated attempts by Lebanon’s legislature for almost a year, all of which have been unsuccessful.

The social void in Lebanon is not the root of the nation’s numerous issues, but the confusion hasn’t done much to ease a crippling economic crisis that has been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. & nbsp,

May congress change things? Why has it been so ineffective during Lebanon’s moment of need?

Some observers hoped that the institution would change for the better as soon as new impartial members arrived following the May 2022 legislative elections. The new MPs took advantage of anti-establishment sentiment and nbsp in an effort to craft a different political discourse that appealed to many voters. They were motivated by b & n and emerging political factions, as well as the October 17 protest movement. & nbsp,

The lack of a national energy has stalled these changes. & nbsp,

The failure of Parliament to advance Lebanon has almost become intolerable. Jihad Azour, a former finance minister, and Suleiman Frangieh, the current president of the Marada Movement, split the vote in June, making it impossible for the room andnbsp to believe on the president. A broken consensus and a lack of agreement on the election process led to the most recent impasse.

Azour, a well-known scholar and nbsp director of the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, may have been expected to protest just elected” criticism” MPs. After many, the IMF is the one who asserts to have the solution to Lebanon’s financial problems.

The bank has urged the caretaker government and parliament to implement structural changes to the nation’s central bank and increase state-owned enterprise clarity.

However, in the end, Azour received only 59 votes, 27 votes short of & nbsp, the two-thirds majority of 86 deputies needed to force a second round, despite temporarily” relinquishing” his duties at the IMF and nfsP to mitigate any conflict of interest. & nbsp,

However, Frangieh, Azour’s rival, has long played a role in the social environment in Lebanon. However, his nomination is also debatable( he received 51 votes in June ).

the significance of congress

The Amal Movement and the Hezbollah Shia coalitions in congress strongly support Frangieh’s election. He is also well-known for his close relationships to the Arab government. Some people find Frangieh’s election to be a painful reminder of the Arab occupation of Lebanon and its organizations, which ended only in 2005 after the last Syrian army left the country.

The drama is furthered by MP Tony Frangieh, the son of Suleiman and winner of a chair in the previous legislative elections. Although home political dynasties are popular in Lebanon, it is simple to imagine the potential conflicts of interest between the executive and legislative branches if Suleiman Frangieh were to be elected president.

A father-son span portends problems in the complex confess politics of Lebanon, where body can be prioritized over public interest. Parliament’s job is to keep the government in check while examining its actions.

A new president, perhaps one with a majority of the vote, won’t be able to address all of Lebanon’s issues, that much is certain. Aoun resigned from office as political polarisation grew worse and public assistance dwindled, problems that still exist today.

However, in nations like Lebanon, which Freedom House describes as” part free” and where fraud is a constant problem, the government is best positioned to represent the interests of the populace. Politicians in Lebanon have long been among the only leadership carrying out the needs of the populace due to the country’s lax legal system and low standards for public responsibilities. & nbsp,

This work is being neglected due to the protracted national void. The majority of Lebanese are unable to meet their basic needs as hardship continues to rise. People companies are in short supply, and prices keeps rising. Therefore, rather than fighting over who will take the initiative, legislature should concentrate on reforming the banking industry, preserving the National Social Security Fund’s financial position, and putting an end to the current currency depreciation. & nbsp,

While international humanitarian aid & nbsp is assisting in reducing the nation’s financial collapse, this is not a long-term fix. In light of the caretaker administration in Lebanon, Parliament needs to concentrate on more specific policies pertaining to the country’s political business.

Nobody knows how long the national impasse in Lebanon will last, but the suffering of the people don’t. While the nation needs a new leader, the more pressing need is for an elected legislature that can fill the void left by the leader.

The Syndication Bureau, which holds rights, provided this article.