The presidential candidate, Ms. Mai Rayhani, announced her withdrawal from the presidential elections in Lebanon due to being diagnosed with lung cancer. The announcement came in a statement, which reads: "When my name was mentioned as a candidate for the Lebanese presidential elections, my professional career was at the peak of my leadership experiences, and my international network with political influencers was extensive, making me prepared and capable of addressing the political, economic, and social issues in Lebanon with the strong energy I have always relied on. However, the winds do not always blow as ships desire. Recently, and unexpectedly, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. As a result, I made the decision to withdraw my candidacy for the presidency of Lebanon. This was not an easy decision. I made it despite my absolute commitment to serving Lebanon and its people, now more than ever, given all the existential threats facing the Lebanese people.
Despite this unexpected decision, I consider that the past two years have been highly valuable as I had the opportunity to address the Lebanese people through various means, during many television interviews, newspaper articles, university lectures, seminars, and meetings with civil society organizations. Through these channels, I discussed with the Lebanese people issues of effective governance free of corruption, the need for expanded decentralization, the separation of justice from the political system, comprehensive reform based on full accountability and transparency in public institutions, the adoption of innovative means for energy use, and committed leadership that delivers results in various sectors. Serving the Lebanese people has been, and still is, the greatest honor of my life, and our days have been filled with hope and determination to overcome challenges in order to reach a place that allows us to achieve the radical change our Lebanon needs. If cancer had not intervened, I would have continued my presidential campaign."
