January 20, 2023 — Beirut (AFP)
Two independent Lebanese lawmakers who spent the night in parliament vowed Friday to stay until MPs elect a new president, as political deadlock hobbles the country already in deep economic crisis.
Lebanon has been without a head of state for more than two months and the government has been operating in a caretaker capacity since May as sectarian leaders fail to reach a political consensus on who should govern.
The embattled local currency, which in three years has lost more than 95 percent of its value, dropped to a new low Thursday against the US dollar as parliament failed for an 11th time to agree on a new president.
