Kaag Sounds Presidential Vacuum Alarm Bell

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U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag warned against the negative effects of the presidential vacuum, saying it would be too late to save the country.

“It is difficult to see the institutions and the economy wearing out” as a result of the vacuum at Baabda Palace, Kaag told An Nahar newspaper in an interview published on Monday.

She said that “Lebanon's stability should not be taken for granted.”

“Lebanon should not be left to slide more or else it will be too late to save it,” she said. “This is not a game or a joke.”

Asked if she thought foreign diplomatic pressure could be exerted to resolve Lebanon's presidential deadlock, she said: “This is not the U.N.'s mission and I don't think diplomatic pressure is the right means.”

The international community believes that the Lebanese people should solve the crisis that erupted following the end of the tenure of former President Michel Suleiman in May 2014, she said.

“It is important for Lebanon not to waste time because it could pay a heavy price at several levels,” Kaag warned.

“It is unhealthy for a democratic country to get used to the vacuum in the presidency, which is an important post for the Christian sect and for the entire country,” she said.

Her comments came as the rival lawmakers are set to elect a new president.

But Monday's parliamentary session will be similar to its predecessor.

Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to adjourn it over lack of quorum.

G.K.

D.A.

Comments 3
Default-user-icon kazan (Guest) 08 February 2016, 10:22

Presidential vacuum is not the root cause of the problem, but it is the result of the root cause. The real problem is that because of the tribe culture in the Middle East and in Lebanon foreigners could always determine the policies in this region.A significant majority of the Lebanese community adhere to the tribe/religion culture, as long as this is the case this population will never be a nation, and will always be a prey for foreigners. No doubt a president will be elected, an artificial peace and stability will follow but...for how long?

Thumb chrisrushlau 08 February 2016, 17:21

Why doesn't Hezbullah lead the Shia masses in a civil-society rejection of the National-Pact/Taef-Accord pre-allocation of half of Parliament to Christians? This failure does make Hezbullah seem anti-democratic.

Default-user-icon Real101 (Guest) 08 February 2016, 18:13

it is a lost cause...there won't be any president anytime soon, the corrupt lebanese politicians have sold out to their masters who do not want to resolve the issue at the moment.