The Baabda presidential chair remains vacant as the new occupant of the palace is awaited following President Michel Aoun’s term expiry on October 31, 2022. The US is prioritizing the election of a president for Lebanon before a ceasefire with Israel, as reported by Axios.
With Hezbollah reeling from recent events, the focus has shifted to filling the two-year-long presidential vacuum, aiming to revive the state amid escalating conflicts. Lebanon has been without a president or a fully empowered cabinet since 2022 due to power struggles involving Hezbollah. Efforts are being made to elect a consensus president, emphasizing stability and negotiation.
The Lebanese Forces party, a major Christian faction, has called for a presidential election to ensure the state can take responsibility independently. Western and Arab nations are pushing for political resolutions to the crisis, urging Lebanon to elect a president to address the ongoing challenges effectively.
As discussions continue, the hope is for dialogue to pave the way for a successful presidential election, resolving the political stalemate and supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region.