The Lebanese flag was lowered to half-mast at the presidential palace in Baabda, Nov. 1, 2022. (Credit: Presidency's X account)
BEIRUT — The US State Department called, in a statement issued Tuesday, on Lebanese MPs to elect a president, form a government free of corruption and implement the reforms needed to secure an IMF deal.
"Exactly one year after the end of former President Aoun’s term, Lebanon remains without a president or an empowered government. Lebanon’s divided parliamentarians have failed to elect a successor to President Aoun, putting their personal ambitions ahead of the interests of their country," the statement said.
"Even as rising tensions along Lebanon’s southern border threaten the country’s stability and the economic crisis deepens, the Lebanese people are deprived of leadership when they need it most," the statement continued.
Daily clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on Lebanon’s southern border have been ongoing for almost three weeks, since Hamas on Oct. 7 launched operation Al-Aqsa Flood on Israeli soil, marking the start of a war between Israel and Hamas.
The country has been without a president since Aoun finished his term in October 2022 with no successor in place.
The Lebanese Parliament has held 12 parliamentary sessions to elect a new president, but all have failed due to a lack of political consensus on a candidate.
"Lebanon’s political paralysis does not benefit the Lebanese people. We call on the country’s parliamentarians to do their duty and elect a president who will put the country and all its people first, commit to forming a government free of corruption, and implement critical economic reforms — chief among them those needed to secure an IMF program," the statement urged.
In September, the IMF criticized the "lack of action" by Lebanese authorities on "urgently needed reforms" to the economy that would unlock a multibillion-dollar aid package.