Salam Marks Independence Day, Urges End to Vacuum

Prime Minister Tammam stated on Saturday that the challenges facing the country have reached a stage that no longer allow a slowdown in finding solutions for deadlocks, calling an end to the presidential vacuum, the National News Agency said.

“Electing a new president restores a structural constitutional fault,” Salam said marking Lebanon's 72nd Independence Day in the absence of a president.

The PM reiterated the necessity to elect a head of state, he said: “While such an election revives political life, blocking state functions by diminishing its prestige constitutes a crime against Lebanon.”

“Maintaining a certain level of security helps prevent the infiltration of terrorists,” he added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the term of President Michel Suleiman ended in May 2014.