Egypt Fully Supports Lebanon to End Presidential Vacuum: FM

CAIRO, Xinhua: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty voiced on Wednesday Egypt’s “full support” for Lebanon to elect a new president and end its two-year presidential vacuum.

Abdelatty made the remarks during his phone talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, one day after the latter called for a general session to be held on Thursday to elect a president for Lebanon.

The Egyptian foreign minister emphasized the necessity of reaching a purely Lebanese consensus, free from foreign dictates, to elect a president “capable of leading Lebanon to face internal and regional challenges and risks.”

“Egypt will continue to provide all forms of support to Lebanon,” he reiterated.

For his part, Berri expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s continuous political and humanitarian support for Lebanon, especially at such a critical stage and under difficult circumstances.

Due to bitter political division, the Lebanese parliament failed to elect a president for the country in 12 electoral sessions since the end of former President Michel Aoun’s term in late October 2022.

A caretaker government has been running the country amid the presidential vacuum.