The Catholic patriarchs and bishops gathered in Bkerke during their 55th annual assembly, November 11, 2022. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The Assembly of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon on Friday called on MPs to "elect a president immediately," as the country is experiencing its first executive double vacancy.
At the end of their 55th annual General Assembly in Bkerki, the patriarchs and bishops concluded that "no other priority takes precedence over the election of a president" and called on the Parliament "to elect a new head of state immediately."
"Without a president, the Constitution cannot be protected, the work of public institutions cannot be supervised, the principle of separation of powers cannot be respected and there is no way out of the political, economic and financial paralysis," they said in a statement Friday evening. They also warned that "without a president, the state will be in total paralysis."
Their words come after five failed parliamentary sessions to elect a successor to Michel Aoun. The caretaker cabinet of Najib Mikati continues to manage government affairs as it has since May, while the country continues to be mired in economic crisis.
Last Sunday, Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai strongly criticized the MPs for their "inaction" and urged them to elect a new president if they want Lebanon to be a "single entity."