After 11 failed attempts at electing a president, MPs affiliated with the Change bloc and “opposition” have staged a sleepover protest inside parliament\u2019s main assembly hall. This initiative was spearheaded by MPs Najat Aoun and Melhem Khalaf, who were then joined by others, such as bloc partners Paula Yaacoubian, Halima Kaakour, Cynthia Zarazair, Wadah Sadek, and Kataeb MPs Samy Gemayel and Elias Hankash.<\/p>
The protest began after the 11th presidential election session was adjourned by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri<\/a> due to a lack of quorum. It has become a sustained habit for some of Lebanon\u2019s parliamentary blocs to come in for the first election round and exit before the second can begin. <\/p> In the first round of voting, presidential candidates need 2\/3rd or 86 votes to be elected while in the second round the threshold drops to a simple 51% majority or 65 votes. By never leaving the hall, the protesting MPs hope to record a statement against their colleagues that continue to forcibly adjourn the sessions.<\/p> . pic.twitter.com\/J2MUWMWZUE<\/a><\/p>\u2014 – Hanady gerges (@HanadyGerges) January 19, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>