Lebanon has been without a president for more than seven months, and the international community has urged Lebanese officials to avoid a prolonged presidential vacuum and enact key reforms required to unlock much-needed IMF loans. The country is mired in a crippling economic crisis since late 2019, and the situation has only worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IMF official Jihad Azour has been nominated for the long-vacant Lebanese presidency, and he has temporarily relinquished his responsibilities at the lender to avoid any perception of conflict of interest.
The Role of the President in Lebanon
Lebanon’s president is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The president also appoints the prime minister and other government officials, including judges. The president has a six-year term, and by convention, Lebanon’s presidency goes to a Maronite Christian. The premiership is reserved for a Sunni Muslim, and the post of parliament speaker goes to a Shiite Muslim.
The Political Crisis in Lebanon
Lebanon has been facing a political crisis since October 2019, when protests erupted across the country against corruption, economic mismanagement, and political elites. The protests forced the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, but his successor, Hassan Diab, failed to form a new government that could address the country’s problems.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated Lebanon’s economic crisis, leading to a sharp devaluation of the Lebanese pound and soaring inflation. The country defaulted on its debt in March 2020, and negotiations with the IMF for a bailout package have stalled due to political infighting and lack of progress on reforms.
The Presidential Vacuum
Lebanon has been without a president since November 2020 when Michel Aoun’s term ended. The country has been run by a caretaker government since May last year, and lawmakers have made 11 failed attempts to elect a new head of state. The political deadlock has prevented the country from enacting key reforms required to unlock much-needed IMF loans.
The Nomination of Jihad Azour
Jihad Azour, who served as Lebanon’s finance minister from 2005 to 2008, has been nominated for the long-vacant Lebanese presidency. Azour has yet to officially announce a presidential bid, but a group of 32 Christian and independent legislators endorsed him after weeks of negotiations.
Azour’s temporary relinquishment of his responsibilities at the IMF is aimed at avoiding any perception of conflict of interest. The IMF has been in talks with Lebanon for a bailout package, and Azour’s nomination for the presidency could raise questions about the lender’s impartiality.
The Endorsements for the Presidency
By convention, Lebanon’s presidency goes to a Maronite Christian, and the premiership is reserved for a Sunni Muslim. The Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah movement has endorsed the pro-Syria Sleiman Frangieh for the presidency, while Azour has received the support of the Free Patriotic Movement, a key Christian ally of Hezbollah.
The political divisions in Lebanon have prevented any single candidate from garnering enough support to become president. Parliament speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a new vote on the presidency for next week, but it remains to be seen if any candidate can win the required two-thirds majority.
The International Community’s Call for Reforms
The international community has urged Lebanese officials to enact key reforms required to unlock much-needed IMF loans. French President Emmanuel Macron named his former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy for Lebanon, in a new bid to end the country’s political crisis. The United States has also urged Lebanese politicians to elect a new president “to unite the country” and swiftly enact reforms.
Conclusion
Lebanon’s political crisis and economic woes have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country is in dire need of a stable government that can address its problems. The nomination of Jihad Azour for the presidency has raised hopes for an end to the presidential vacuum, but the political divisions in the country remain a major obstacle. The international community has called for reforms and urged Lebanese officials to put the interests of the country above their personal ambitions. The coming weeks will be crucial for Lebanon’s future, and the world will be watching closely.
H2 Headings:
– The Role of the President in Lebanon
– The Political Crisis in Lebanon
– The COVID-19 Pandemic and Lebanon’s Economic Woes
– The Presidential Vacuum and the Need for Reforms
– The Nomination of Jihad Azour for the Presidency
– The Endorsements for the Presidency and the Political Divisions in Lebanon
– The International Community’s Call for Reforms
– Conclusion