Efforts to unify the Christians of Lebanon in order to protect the community from the worst of the fallout from regional and internal crises have so far proven futile, but the looming threat of a presidential vacuum could breathe new life into reconciliation attempts.

Christian political sources from across the spectrum discuss mounting concern within the community regarding what they see as the decline of Christian influence due to fragmentation and political bickering.

One source predicted that the general political vacuum would not be resolved anytime soon, pointing to the lack of any progress on the horizon to suggest a breakthrough in the formation of a government. At the same time, Parliament has stalled, and when President Michel Sleiman’s term ends in May it is not likely to be renewed.

Christian parliamentarians said they had seen a trend of increasing marginalization of the Christians within the political arena, especially when it comes to major decisions. [Link]