Beirut: Lebanon’s divided parliament failed to elect a new president for the ninth time on Thursday, with many lawmakers spoiling their ballots, including those who voted for “Nelson Mandela”.
Hezbollah’s rival Michael Moawad won the support of 39 MPs, but fell far short of the required majority.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session and announced a new meeting next Thursday, the last session for 2022.
Berry reiterated talks among MPs to find a consensus candidate to prevent the process from dragging on for months.
Only 105 MPs out of 128 turned up to vote on Thursday and many of them spoiled their ballots.
For the first time, and after eight parliamentary sessions, the number of blank ballots cast by Hezbollah and its allies equaled the number of votes received by Mo’awad.
The tie came against the backdrop of a rift between Hezbollah and its Christian ally in Lebanon, the Free Patriotic Movement, since last Monday’s cabinet session.
According to a parliamentary observer, the FPM decided to stop casting blank ballots as before and distribute its votes in a calculated manner.
The observer said that although the session failed to elect a president, the FPM’s move sent a calculated message to Hezbollah on its open decisions by leaking the votes of some of its delegates in favor of Moaism, reducing the number of blank votes. .
The winning candidate needs at least 86 votes in the first round of voting, and an absolute majority of 65 votes in subsequent rounds.
Parliament again failed to hold a second round for loss of quorum following the withdrawal of MPs from Hezbollah, the Amal Movement and other blocs.
Nine MPs voted for “The New Lebanon”, five for Issam Khalifah and three for customs chief Badri Daher, who is in custody in connection with the Beirut port explosion investigation.
Former deputy Ziyad Baroud, legal expert and candidate Salah Hönen, and activist and candidate Fauzi Bou Malhab received one vote each.
One vote read “For Lebanon,” and the other read “Agreement.” In addition to the canceled votes, a vote was cast for “Nelson Mandela”.
The ballot results showed that the FPM’s delegates, amounting to 17, chose their choices carefully, as they did not direct all their votes towards Mouawad.
Some votes with the inscriptions “Mouawad,” “Michel” and “Mouawad Badri Daher” were canceled.
Representatives of Hezbollah and the FPM made no statement after the session, but engaged in a quick side-by-side dialogue.
MPs from the Amal Movement refrained from discussing the dispute between Hezbollah and the FPM.
MP Ali Hassan Khalil said that every party should review its stand, so “we can move forward with this dialogue.”
He said: “We are keen to maintain relations between political forces and we do not interfere in this matter.
“Everyone should know that the only way to overcome this crisis is through dialogue and communication.”
Moawad said that “What happened emphasized the solid stand of the blocs that voted for me. Some wanted to send a message but they could not do so till the end. What is happening is condemnable.”
The MP said he refused to be caught in what he called “vote exchange”.
He said: “What is needed is a sovereign president and not consent in a negative sense.”
The dispute between Hezbollah and the FPM has deteriorated to this point for the first time.
Hours before the parliamentary session, Hezbollah issued a statement in response to Gebran Bassil’s harsh criticism of the party, accusing it of failing to deliver on its promises.
The allegation was made against the backdrop of Hezbollah’s participation in the cabinet session, seen by the FPM as an illegal way of taking away the prerogatives of the presidency.
In its statement, Hezbollah affirmed that the party had not promised anyone that it would not convene a cabinet until all its constituents had approved it, and therefore, Basil had the right to consider the move a broken promise. There was no reason for
The statement said: “Hezbollah did not commit to the FPM that it would not attend necessary cabinet meetings if the party’s ministers (FPM) boycotted it.”
Hezbollah said that “using the language of betrayal and distrust is an unwise and inappropriate behavior.”
Hezbollah said “What Lebanon needs today is communication and dialogue.”
Lebanon has been quick to confirm the safety of Rafik Hariri International Airport and those traveling through it.
Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said they would “continue to combat all cross-border smuggling in cooperation with all security and military bodies.”
He said this on Thursday after inspecting the airport security service and meeting with the officials.
The visit was followed by a report on the Al-Arabiya-al-Hadath channel that security sources warned that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were using Iranian airline Meraj flights to transport weapons and equipment to Hezbollah.
Regarding the landing of Iranian airline flights affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards at Beirut airport, Mawlavi said: “We are willing to enforce the laws and defend Lebanon.”
Fadi al-Hassan, Lebanon’s director general of civil aviation, denied the claims.
Al-Hassan said the timing of the “unfounded” reports damaged the airport’s reputation.
Meraj Company is not affiliated to any party, he said.
Al-Hassan said the airline operated its first flight to Beirut’s international airport on November 14 and met all safety requirements.
David Hill, former US Assistant Secretary of State, met with Berry, among other developments.
Hill said in a statement that the situation in Lebanon is not hopeless and political will is needed to carry out reforms.