Parliament fails again to elect a president

The Lebanese Parliament failed on Thursday again to elect a new president as the country’s political stalemate continues.

 

The results of the first round of voting came as follows:

 

- 39 votes for Michel Moawad

 

- 39 blank ballots 

 

- 9 votes for “New Lebanon”

 

- 5 votes for Issam Khalifeh 

 

- 4 cancelled ballots

 

- 3 votes for Badri Daher 

 

- 1 vote for Ziad Baroud 

 

- 1 vote for Salah Hnein

 

- 1  vote for “For Lebanon”

 

- 1 vote for “Consensus”

 

- 1 vote for Fawzi Abou Malhab 

 

- 1 vote for Moawad Badri Daher 

105 lawmakers attended the session, while the following lawmakers did not: Salim al-Sayegh, Simon Abi Ramia, Yassine Yassine, Waddah Sadek, Elias Bou Saab, Strida Geagea, Nehmet Efrem, Taha Naji, Ali Ossairan, Melhem Riachi, Hagop Pakradounian.

For his part, MP Gebran Bassil arrived late to the session and did not cast a ballot.

Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled a new election session next Thursday, after the house failed to secure a quorum for the second round of voting.