Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai strongly condemned any attempts to delay Lebanon's presidential election scheduled for January 9, calling it “unacceptable” and a “great shame” for the country.
During his Sunday service, Rai warned against “tampering with this crucial date” and emphasized the urgent need for Lebanon to regain political confidence.
“Today, the issue in Lebanon is the loss of confidence by politicians in themselves, in each other and in state institutions,” said Rai. He expressed dismay at the presidential vacancy, which has been ongoing for two years and two months. He attributed this vacancy to politicians waiting for foreign intervention in selecting a leader. Although he acknowledged Lebanon's allies for their support, Rai clarified that the nation’s fate should not be dictated from outside.
Rai’s remarks also targeted the growing political fragmentation and lack of unity among Lebanon's leaders, noting the abundance of “declared, hidden and unspoken presidential candidates.” He criticized politicians' hesitation to participate in the parliamentary election process, further exacerbating the crisis. “The confidence of politicians in each other is lacking,” Rai stated. “They do not dare to come to parliament to elect the president, waiting for a name from abroad.”
The Patriarch also criticized the disregard for state institutions and underscored the detrimental effects of politicians' neglect of key national entities like the parliament and the judiciary. He highlighted the collapse of the legislative function, as the parliament has been inactive for over two years, and the politicization of Lebanon’s judiciary, which undermines the country’s constitutional framework.
Rai called for an urgent restoration of trust within Lebanon’s political landscape, with the next president playing a crucial role in rebuilding internal unity. He stressed that the new head of state “should promote national cohesion based on citizenship, loyalty to Lebanon and equality before the law,” in line with the “structural reforms outlined at international conferences in Paris, Rome and Brussels.”
He urged MPs to engage in the necessary consultations for a timely decision and said, “We pray that a president will be elected on January 9.”
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