The spark of the parliamentary sessions to elect a president for the republic has dimmed, session after session. The enthusiasm that began both in the parliament and among the public during the initial sessions faded in the subsequent ones, culminating in the last, seventh session. During this session, most representatives acted as if they were playing roles on a stage rather than being representatives of the people, entrusted with protecting the country's interests and the constitution. They transformed into pawns on a parliamentary chessboard or blank papers in a ballot box, waiting for external green light, which is anticipated to materialize in February.
Can the Lebanese afford to endure, at least in terms of living and health, until that projected time, especially considering the reluctance of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to convene the Cabinet, despite the pressing need, for a decree that allows disbursing billions of lira to hospitals threatened with ceasing dialysis for patients referred from the Ministry of Health or for cancer patients hanging by the threads of empty promises?
Additionally, the reluctance to call a Cabinet meeting has deprived the Lebanese of following the Qatar World Cup, as disbursing $5 million to connect Lebanon to the distribution network necessitates a decree in the Council of Ministers. Observers pointed to Article 62 of the Lebanese Constitution (Taif Agreement), which states: "In the event of a vacancy in the presidency for any reason, the powers of the president are entrusted, temporarily, to the Council of Ministers." The former Prime Minister, Tamam Salam, applied this article during the vacancy preceding the election of the former president, Michel Aoun, by adding the phrase "the Council of Ministers jointly" as a customary practice.
However, the same circles consider the refusal to convene the Council of Ministers, even in cases of urgent necessity, as a tacit response to the decree accepting the government's resignation, signed by President Michel Aoun in the final days of his term, clearly bypassing established norms.
