Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian warned that Lebanon has become a failed state.
“We are rapidly moving toward no state at all, and the Arabs and the world will soon start ignoring Lebanon’s existence because of political mismanagement at all levels,” he said.
“We need to elect a new president and the MPs are responsible for electing him or creating a presidential vacuum.”
Derian had invited Sunni MPs for a meeting at Dar Al-Fatwa to discuss possible candidates, where all but three of the 27 Sunni MPs from different political currents attended the meeting.
Two reformist MPs, Ibrahim Mneimneh and Halima Al-Qaaqour, and independent MP Osama Saad did not attend.
A source in Dar Al-Fatwa said that the meeting was aimed at uniting the Sunni bloc in parliament to allow it to have a meaningful say in the presidential elections.
The bloc also aims to stop any attempts to tamper with the Taif Agreement and undermine its provisions regarding Lebanon’s constitution, the source said.
In a statement issued after the meeting, those present stressed the principles advocated by Dar Al-Fatwa, especially in terms of committing to the Taif Agreement, Lebanon’s Arab identity, and national unity.
The Sunni MPs stressed the need to end Lebanon’s suffering under mismanagement and rampant corruption.
