Lebanon MPs fail to elect president for third time

Lebanese lawmakers have failed to elect a new president for the third time after some MPs boycotted the voting.

On Wednesday, Lebanese legislators failed for a third time to elect a new leader to replace President Michel Sleiman.
“Speaker Nabih Berri has announced May 15 as the next date for a parliament session, given the lack of quorum Wednesday,” the official National News Agency said.
Lawmakers affiliated with Hezbollah and its allies boycotted the third round of voting in the parliament. Only 73 MPs showed up on Wednesday.
The MPs have been advised to elect a new president by May 25, when Sleiman’s six-year term expires.
In order to win the presidential race, a candidate must receive two thirds of the vote, meaning at least 86 votes.
On April 30, only 47 of the parliament’s 128 members attended the session.
The deadly foreign-sponsored unrest spilling over into the country from neighboring Syria has left Lebanese lawmakers divided over who their next president should be.
Deputies are faced with a choice between Samir Geagea, an opponent of the Syrian government and Hezbollah resistance movement, and Michel Aoun.
Under the country’s sectarian-based political system, lawmakers must choose a Maronite Christian president.