Brussels, 26/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - As Lebanon entered its third year without a president on Wednesday 25 May, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, in a statement on 26 May, urged the parties to come to agreement as swiftly as possible on electing a new president after the parliament has tried and failed 39 times since 2014.
“The EU again urges Lebanese political forces and all stakeholders to put partisan and individual interests aside and find a viable compromise to elect a President swiftly”, states Mogherini in a press release published on behalf of the EU. In Lebanon, the post of president of the parliament is held by a Shiite, the post of prime minister by a Sunni and the presidency of the republic by a Maronite Christian. Welcoming the holding of municipal elections on 16 May, Mogherini also called on all parties to create the conditions for parliamentary elections to be held. The last legislative elections date back to 2009, with the elections scheduled for 2013 being cancelled. MPs have several times since then extended their four-year term of office. It will now run until 2017. The president of the parliament proposed on 19 May that early elections be held. This proposal will be discussed by parliament at the end of June.
“The National Dialogue and other mediation efforts are laudable initiatives to ensure communication between political forces and prevent a deterioration of the political climate”, said Mogherini. “Lebanon remains an example of freedom, diversity and tolerance for the region, but the prolonged political crisis can only further weaken the country and its institutions” in facing its many challenges, she added, underlining that the EU is “fully aware of the additional challenges that the refugee crisis poses for the stability of Lebanon”.
The high representative also repeated that the EU supports the efforts deployed by the Lebanese government “under difficult circumstances to ensure that issues of dissent do not hinder completely the functioning of Lebanese Institutions, and do not compromise the delivery of international assistance” and commends the work of the Lebanese Armed Forces for the safety and security of the country”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)