US urges to elect a president in Lebanon 'free of corruption'
The State Department appeal comes as Lebanese politicians fail to address the country's economic crisis.
BEIRUT — The United States warned on Monday of the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and urged the Lebanese parliament to swiftly elect a president who is “free of corruption” to unite the country.
In a press statement, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called on the political leadership “to move expeditiously to elect a president” and “swiftly enact the reforms needed to rescue its economy from crisis.”
Washington is not involved in the name game of the future president in Lebanon but is emphasizing that any candidate should be "free of corruption", an endemic that has plagued the political elite in Beirut and drove the country to bankruptcy.
“The United States believes Lebanon needs a president free of corruption who can unite the country, advocate for transparency and accountability, put the interests of Lebanon’s people first, move towards national unity and implement critical economic reforms, chief among them those required to secure an International Monetary Fund program,” Miller said in his statement.
