The christian who make up 35 percent
of Lebanon 's population---are divided
evenly among the two groupings ,
Since the withdrawal of Syrian troops
in 2005 ,Lebanon 's fractious political
parties have been unable to organise
regular and independent presidential
elections.
In2008,a seven -month presidential
vacancy ended only after Qatar's intervention
which led the bickering parties to belatedly
agree on Sleiman as head of state.
Analysts say increasing regional tensions
make a similar arrangement unlikely
today ,however,
Having a regional struggle that is sectarian
oriented does not help Lebanon reach a
consensus among its three sectarian groups
"Salamey said
As conflicts between political rivals Saudi
Arabia and Iran play themselves out in Iraq,
Yemen and Syria ,Lebanon political class
sits and waits, Artash said.
Syria's war is the most divisive for Lebanon,
which hosts more than one million Syrian
refugess and regularly faces spillover violence
from across the border,
That conflict has deepened sectarian faultlines
between Lebanon's Sunnis and Shiites strengthening
ties between se
sectarian groups and their sponsor states
the Sunnis with Saudi Arabia and Turkey,
and the Shiites with Iran Salamey said.
Lebanon 's own politician admit that their
domestic politics are inextricably tied to
foreign powers.
Ayyub Hmayed from the rival March 8
camp said "Sadly we have got used to having
foreign powers with influence over us
It seem we are still waiting for this while
the foreign powers are busy elsewhere".
The deep political rifts that have prevented
the election of a president have also hindered
other state institutions
In the absence of the head of state,presidential
powers are constitutionally transferred to the
cabinet,but this is itself divided and struggling
to operate
Parliament is also rife with discord that it
has been unable to hold legislative sessions
since Sleiman 's term ended -except for a
single vote to extend its own mandate
"There are agreements with outside powers
for over $1 billion that Lebanon is at risk
of losing if parliament does not approve
the funds"said parliamentary media official
Mohammad Ballout
AFP
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