BEIRUT, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday called on political parties to engage in dialogue to end the presidential election impasse in September.
Lebanon has been running without a president since October last year when the term of Former President Michel Aoun ended. The parliament has failed to elect a new president 12 times, because of a lack of consensus among the country's political factions, mainly Hezbollah and its opponents.
"In September, we should find a solution to this crisis. I believe it is everyone's responsibility to elect a president," Berri said in an interview with the al-Joumhouriya daily published on Monday.
The speaker added that to satisfy both parties, a seven-day dialogue has been initiated, followed by open presidential election sessions.
He said he would call for open sessions until a president is elected, regardless of the dialogue's outcome.
"We must put an end to the presidential crisis before the end of September," Berri stressed, saying the initiative is the country's "last chance."
Lebanon has been suffering an unprecedented financial crisis. The country urgently needs to elect a president and form a new cabinet to implement the necessary reforms and put the country on the path to recovery. ■
