U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag urged on Monday Lebanon’s rival lawmakers to elect a president without delay and to put the nation’s interest above partisan politics.

“Over the past year, the vacuum in the presidency has undermined Lebanon’s ability to address the growing security, economic and social challenges facing the country,” Kaag said in a statement as Lebanon marked a one-year vacuum in the country’s top Christian post.

The vacuum has “contributed to political polarization at a time when Lebanon must make a united effort to safeguard the country from the impact of the Syrian crisis,” she said.

(Link)