Lebanon fails to elect president in first round of voting

Lebanese MP’s have failed to elect a president during the first round of voting on January 9th. But officials feel optimist that a second round would prompt the election of a head of state after the country has not had a president for over two years, The National reports. 

The parliament had been moving closer to electing the army commander, Gen Joseph Aoun, as the 60-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel is due to end January 26th, leading officials from the main political parties in Lebanon indicated to The National.

Aoun got 71 out of the 86 votes needed in the house which had 128 members, during the first session.

The National