The empty presidential seat in Baabda Palace. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — The International Support Group for Lebanon called Wednesday for the election of a president who can "unite the Lebanese people," though the group criticized the government for its slow implementation of economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund.
The Lebanese government must make the reforms in order to unlock a multi-billion-dollar loan from the IMF, following a staff-level agreement to the financial aid package in April.
Established in Sept. 2013 by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with former Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to help mobilize support and assistance for Lebanese stability, sovereignty and institutions, the ISG brings together representatives of the UN, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union and the Arab League.
"As the term of the President of Lebanon expires on 31 October, the International Support Group for Lebanon emphasizes the importance of electing within the timeframe set by the Constitution, a new President who could unite the Lebanese people and work with all regional and international actors to overcome the economic and humanitarian crisis for the greater public good, most immediately by paving the way for comprehensive reforms and an agreement with the IMF," the Group advocated in a statement posted on the website of the office of the UN special coordinator in Lebanon.
Regarding the preliminary agreement with the IMF, reached in early April, the ISG noted "the insufficient progress in the implementation of the commitments made under the staff-level agreement," including the legislative stalemate regarding the adoption of laws on capital controls, banking secrecy and the restructuring of the banking system.
The ISG also called for the establishment of "an empowered new government that can implement the direly needed reforms." Now is the time for Lebanese politicians to swiftly reach a broad-based national consensus to avoid a multilayered executive vacuum," it insisted.
Some observers fear a double executive vacancy, which would be an unprecedented situation in the country, while a successor to current President Michal Aoun still has not been elected, less than a month before the constitutional deadline to do so. Negotiations for the establishment of a new cabinet also remain stalled. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati's cabinet has been in charge of current affairs since the May 2022 legislative elections.
The ISG also criticized "the lack of progress so far in the judicial proceedings in connection with the Beirut port explosion" of Aug. 4, 2020. The investigation into this case is blocked by the multiple proceedings launched against the investigating judge Tarek Bitar by officials he prosecuted.
"It is incumbent on Lebanese leadership to deliver for the people and return Lebanon to a path of sustainability and progress," the ISG concluded.