Caretaker Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Credit: File photo NNA)
BEIRUT — Amid a visit to Rome, caretaker Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Monday that the Vatican insists on "the need to hold the presidential election as soon as possible," according to a statement.
Bou Habib met with Vatican Secretary Pietro Parolin and the head of Vatican diplomacy, Paul Gallagher, earlier in the day.
After the meetings, Bou Habib issued a statement saying the Vatican considers the Lebanese presidential election to be "a necessary gateway to solutions and reforms in Lebanon, but also to regularize the work of institutions."
Bou Habib also said Vatican officials also impressed upon him the need "to continue the dialogue and strengthen the agreements in order to find fair and long-term solutions for the crises in the Middle East."
Lebanon has been without a president since Michel Aoun left office on Oct. 31, 2022. Parliament has held 11 sessions devoted to the election of his successor, all of which failed.
Hezbollah and the Amal Movement support the candidacy of Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh, who remains a divisive figure among the Christian parties.
France unofficially supports Frangieh's candidacy, while Saudi Arabia says it supports any consensus candidate.