Lebanon's deeply divided Parliament will on Thursday hold its first session to decide on the country’s next president. However, the successful candidate is unlikely to be confirmed this week as a consensus figure has not yet come to the fore.
The 11am session, called for by Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, will take place about a month before incumbent President Michel Aoun's term ends on October 31.
In Lebanon’s confessional political system, the president is always a Maronite Christian.
Electing Mr Aoun’s successor requires a two-thirds majority in the first session, or an absolute majority after that in Lebanon’s 128-seat Parliament.
A protracted wait for the next president is not without precedent — it took 46 sessions and 29 months for MPs to agree on Mr Aoun in 2016. That ended after a series of backdoor deals between rival factions.
Following parliamentary elections earlier this year, no political bloc holds an absolute majority.
Almost all of Lebanon’s previous presidents since independence from France in 1943 have been elected after agreements or interventions between regional or world powers and the country's rival parties.
If a new president is not elected before the end of Mr Aoun’s tenure, the government will take on presidential powers.
But the government is currently in a caretaker capacity because an agreement has not been found over the Cabinet's formation.
This would be the first time a caretaker government could potentially take on the presidential powers since the end of Lebanon's civil wars more than three decades ago.
Lebanon is engulfed in an economic crisis which first became apparent in 2019 and which has been described as one of the worst in modern history.
The following year, the World Bank said the country's economy contracted by 20 per cent and in 2021 said that there was "a lack of political consensus over effective policy initiatives," as well as an existing "political consensus in defence of a bankrupt economic system, which benefited a few for so long".
But progress towards reform has been painstakingly slow and in May 2022 the World Bank said the impact of government inaction would be "colossal not only on daily lives of citizens, but also on the future of the Lebanese people".
Much of the population has been thrown into poverty and the local currency has plummeted in value by more than 95 per cent. There are also widespread shortages in bread, water, electricity, medicine and other basic goods.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
