Lebanon (MNN) — Lebanon remains leaderless after the sixth failed attempt to elect a new president. It’s been nearly a month since former president Michel Aoun’s term ended, and the parliament has yet to agree on his replacement.
“We have lost all hope in the government. I didn’t even pay attention to the news headlines because that’s how certain we are from history that, ‘Oh, they’re not going to elect a president,’” says Pierre Houssney, Executive Director of Horizons International.
Few Lebanese hold any hope for lasting change or reform in this election cycle. “We’re used to long periods not having a president,” Houssney says.
It took two and a half years and a series of political deals behind closed doors for Aoun to be elected in 2016.
“The voting that happens in the parliament gets reported internationally. But the actual power structures that decide the elections are completely outside those government structures,” Houssney says.
“That’s how far the corruption has gone.”
Meanwhile, the Lebanese people suffer. Unlocking billions in international aid depends on concrete reforms in government.
Horizons works alongside Lebanese churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. As a result, thousands of refugees and Lebanese citizens have proclaimed faith in Christ. More about that here.
As the Arab League country with the most freedom of religion, Lebanon is a critical Gospel gateway to the rest of the Middle East. “Pray and act so the global Church would [realize] how important things are for the body of Christ in the Middle East right now,” Houssney says.
“Things are being decided for the next century in this geographical area.”
Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati leads a cabinet with extremely limited powers. The header image depicts Mikati meeting with the United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in September 2022. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain]
