Iran Optimistic about Agreement over Lebanon’s New President
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s ambassador to Beirut expressed optimism about the Lebanese political parties’ success to elect a new president at the Arab country’s parliament.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized the necessity for the materialization of calm as well as promotion and strengthening of national unity in Lebanon,” Ghazanfar Roknabadi stressed.
The Iranian envoy said he was optimistic that the Lebanese politicians and leaders of different political parties from the whole ethnicities can go through this stage successfully, because they enjoy a high level of understanding and political acumen.
In the latest development, the Lebanese parliamentarians failed to elect a new president in a first round of voting on Wednesday, with leading candidate Samir Geagea falling well short of the required two-thirds majority.
Parliament must choose a successor to President Michel Suleiman, whose six-year term ends in late May.
If parliament fails to elect a new president in the second session, politicians might look for consensus candidates such as current army chief General Jean Kahwaji or Central Bank governor Riad Salameh, though neither has declared their intention to run at this stage.
Lebanon's political system divides up political power among its various religious communities, allocating the presidency to Maronite Christians.