The first task of the new parliament is to elect its new president. While this "task" has traditionally gone smoothly, today it has become a subject of debate that rises to the level of a "political battle." Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has held the position for thirty years and is preparing for a seventh four-year term. The question is no longer whether he will return as the head of parliament, but rather how many votes he will secure for that return, especially since he is the only Shia candidate.
Some opposition forces, from both the "change" and traditional wings, aim to "complicate" Berri's path to the presidency. There are two prevailing approaches among these forces: the first, representing a minority, calls for a boycott of the election and not ensuring a quorum for the session. The second, representing a majority, encourages attendance and voting with a blank ballot to potentially allow Berri to be re-elected with a low number of votes, falling short of the threshold of half plus one.
Source: "Al-Qabas" (Kuwait)
