Iran Press/ Middle East: The failed vote will deepen sectarian tensions in Lebanon, already mired in one of the world’s worst economic crises and facing unprecedented political paralysis with its cabinet only partially empowered and its legislature fractured, Reuters reported.
In their first round of voting, Lebanese parliament representatives have failed to vote for a new president for the country, as non of the candidates were able to acquire 2 thirds of the votes as the constitution states.
59 votes registered for Azour, 51 for Frangieh, 1 for Joseph Aoun, 6 for Baroud, 8 for New Lebanon, 1 Invalid Ballot, 1 Blank Ballot, and 1 Lost Ballot resulted from the failed meeting.
Hezbollah's preferred candidate, Sleiman Frangieh, trailed behind his main rival, Jihad Azour, a former finance minister and a senior official with the International Monetary Fund, in the first round of voting.
zour is supported by the opposition to Hezbollah and some of its nominal allies, received 59 votes to 51 for Frangieh, while 18 lawmakers cast blank ballots, protest votes, or voted for minority candidates.
However, Azour failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to win in the first round.
The meeting came after 11 previous sessions by the parliament — the last of which was held in January — failed to elect a replacement for President Michel Aoun, a Hezbollah ally, whose term ended in late October.
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