Amid protests by the relatives of the victims of the explosion at Beirut’s port on August 4, 2020, the 11th legislative debate took place, with blank and invalid ballots dominating,therefore, reflecting the absence of consensus.

A total of 110 lawmakers attended the session, where representative Michel Moawad scored 34 votes, Essam Khalifa got seven, Ziad Baroud reached two, and Edward Hanin received one. Meanwhile, 37 supported the blank book, and 29 ballots were invalidated.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the plenary session after losing the quorum. Thence the power void continues in the context of the worst economic and financial crisis in modern times, due to the unprecedented devaluation of the national currency, the decrease in purchasing power and the elimination of subsidies, among other problems.

Since September 29, with the beginning of the voting sessions, no candidate from the Maronite Christian community has had the support of the legislative majority to be the head of State.

Lebanon is going through the fourth power void after its independence, following the end of Michel Aoun’s presidential mandate on October 31.

jrr/iff/jf/yma