Lebanon Presidential Election 2014

[Famous Mortimer]

First round:

Blank 52
Samir Geagea (Lebanese Forces) 48
Henri Hélou (Progressive Socialist Party) 16
Void 7
Amin Gemaye (Kataeb Party, not actively running) 1

86 votes needed so no one was elected. They will try again next week.

[Simfan34]

The thought of a President Geagea is terrifying.

[Famous Mortimer]

Worse than a president backed by Assad and Hezbollah?

[palandio]

To get enough votes a candidate needs the backing of FPM (Aoun) and/or Hezbollah and Amal. Geagea is the most improbable candidate to obtain this, so any talk about a President Geagea is lacking substance. He was merely a counting candidate who has not even been able to get the 58 votes of his own March 14 camp.

Recall that also Michel Sleiman was "Hezbollah's candidate" and then went his own more independent way.
So I think the really strong candidates have not yet been presented, e.g. ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Obeid or army commander Jean Kahwaji. Also they might find some less divisive candidates than Geagea inside March 14. They could also take Jumblatt's candidate, but I think they don't want to strengthen Jumblatt's kingmaker position. Finally they might even try run Aoun as president and try to pull him out of his alliance with Hezbollah into a more neutral stance.

[politicus]

Here is an article on why its deadlocked. If you know about Lebanese politics there is nothing new in it, but otherwise its pretty good.

http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/08/01/presidential-elections-lebanon-deadlocked/

Also they seem not to have set a date for the general election due to not having a president yet and not agreeing on a reform of electoral law. In 17 months in May 2013 they already extended parliaments term with 17 Months, but they may extend it further.

[politicus]

The 13th round of this never ending saga is today, but no news yet. It will prevent them from holding the parliamentary election if they don't agree on this, so there is some pressure for a compromise (but this is Lebanon, so...)

EDIT: The Speaker has just adjourned the meeting without Parliament agreeing on a candidate.

No news of when they will try again.

[politicus]

Regarding the influence of this on the parliamentary election it should be noted that the Speaker Nabih Berri has stated back in August that the idea of postponing the parliamentary election even further because of security concerns and the absence of a president is a no go.

The speaker has said that extending Parliament’s mandate beyond November would be futile given the utter paralysis in the legislative branch in light of a boycot by most Christian MPs and some March 14 lawmakers of all legislative sessions. The boycotting MPs argue that Parliament should only convene over urgent matters while the presidential seat is void.

Still, there is a genuine constitutional dispute over whether you can have a parliamentary election with no President elected.

Background: https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/Reports-Interviews/540670-complete-guide-to-lebanons-presidential-election

[politicus]

Update on the December 10 "election":

Parliament has for the 16th time (sic!) failed to elect a President - again because of boycott by the March 8 Alliance. Only 56 of 128 present and they need 2/3 for a quorum. They will try again on January 7. France has offered to mediate between the parties. Not sure they are the right ones to do it,

[politicus]

They failed for the 17th time on January 7. New attempt on January 28.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2015/Jan-07/283264-lebanon-presidential-election-postponed-to-jan-28.ashx

[Simfan34]

You'd think Kahwaji would be the automatic choice here.

[politicus]

You'd think Kahwaji would be the automatic choice here.

I doubt they would want to change their top military commander in the present security situation.

[Famous Mortimer]

Mia Khalifa for president.

[politicus]

Mia Khalifa for president.

I am sure Hizbollah would love that idea.

[Simfan34]

Mia Khalifa for president.

...