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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Hezbollah denounces 'political farce and personal interests' and advocates for 'consensus'

MP Mohammad Raad also attacked the "narrow mindedness, hatred and racism among officials and in their policies that have destroyed the country."

Hezbollah denounces 'political farce and personal interests' and advocates for 'consensus'

Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad on Dec. 25, 2022. (Credit: Courtesy of Mountasser Abdallah)

BEIRUT — The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary group, Mohammad Raad, on Sunday reaffirmed his party's commitment to "consensus" on the election of Lebanon's future head of state. The country has been without a president since the end of Michel Aoun's term on Oct. 31.

Already mired in the worst economic crisis in its modern history, Lebanon has for almost two months now been contending with an unprecedented political vacuum at the executive level: alongside the presidential vacuum, Najib Mikati's cabinet has been serving in a caretaker capacity, curtailing its remit to management of day-to-day affairs, since its resignation in the aftermath of parliamentary elections in May.

At a partisan event on Sunday, Raad said that "the fastest way to elect a president is through consensus."

"The urgent needs of the country require a president with different characteristics: come and discuss it!" he said.

Hezbollah MPs have so far cast blank ballots at all parliamentary sessions devoted to the presidential election. Hezbollah has  been unable to agree with its allies, particularly the Free Patriotic Movement, on a common candidate.

Since the onset of the electoral period, Hezbollah has advocated finding a consensus candidate, while others, such as Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces, seek the election of a president who will stand up to Hezbollah and its possession of non-state weapons. 

"The political farce, the personal and selfish interests, the narrow mindedness, the hatred and the racism among the leaders and in their policies have destroyed the country," Raad said, without naming the target of his comments.

Parliament has so far convened 10 times without success to elect a president. 

BEIRUT — The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary group, Mohammad Raad, on Sunday reaffirmed his party's commitment to "consensus" on the election of Lebanon's future head of state. The country has been without a president since the end of Michel Aoun's term on Oct. 31. Already mired in the worst economic crisis in its modern history, Lebanon has for almost two months now been contending with an...