Hours After Truce, Berri Calls for Action on Presidential Vacancy

On Wednesday, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri called for renewed efforts to resolve Lebanon’s ongoing presidential vacancy, just hours after a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel took effect. Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, with the deeply divided parliament failing to elect a new leader. The last attempt to choose a president was over a year ago.

Berri urged political factions to unite and select a president who would bring the country together, rather than further divide it. In a televised address, he stressed that the moment had arrived for all parties to come together for the sake of Lebanon. He described this as a critical test for the nation’s future, aimed at rebuilding Lebanon and restoring its constitutional institutions.

The ongoing conflict had already worsened Lebanon’s economic crisis and deepened the rifts between political groups aligned with or opposed to Hezbollah.

As a key Shiite politician and ally of Hezbollah, Berri played a central role in brokering the U.S.-mediated ceasefire. He also called for displaced citizens to return to their homes despite warnings from both Lebanese and Israeli military forces. Berri encouraged them to “return to your homes and your land,” emphasizing the importance of rebuilding the nation after the conflict.