Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that his goal is the election of a new president "as soon as possible," while the country faces an unprecedented total vacuum in the Executive power after president Michel Aoun's term officially ended on Monday with a cabinet in a caretaker capacity.
"Our goal is the election of a new president as soon as possible, a president that unites the Lebanese and does not divide them," Mikati said during an interview with Sky News Arabia.
"The Lebanese Parliament is supposed to remain in session when the government resigns and is in charge of expediting affairs,” he added. The House convened four times so far to try and elect a new president but has failed to do so. The Chamber's speaker, Nabih Berri, has not fixed a new session yet.
For the first time in its history, Lebanon is in a double vacancy while no government has been formed yet. Mikati's cabinet is in charge of expediting affairs since May's legislative elections.
Two days before his term ends, Aoun announced that he had signed the resignation of the government and that he had sent a letter to Parliament to notify it of the procedure and to ask it to take the necessary measures regarding the matter. In response to the letter, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has summoned the country's MPs to a session on Thursday.
According to experts, Aoun's latest move is considered purely procedural and does not have a legal basis. Mikati also defended this view.
European Union Head of Diplomacy Josep Borrell had called in a statement Tuesday on the Lebanese authorities to elect a new president and form a government "with the utmost urgency."
France and Iran have also urged Lebanon to form a government quickly.