Lebanon: 89-year-old president’s term ends – no successor Man attacked by Nancy Pelosi with a hammer – attacker targeted himself

With the departure of outgoing President Michel Aoun after six years in office, Lebanon is heading for a period without a head of state or government. The 89-year-old left his presidential palace in Beirut on Sunday. Hundreds of supporters gathered in the streets. The successor is still open as the leading parties in the crisis-ravaged Mediterranean country are engaged in a bitter power struggle. After six years, Aoun’s term ends next Monday at midnight.

Shortly before that, the outgoing head of state signed a decree resigning the outgoing government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati. “Today one phase ends and another begins. It will take effort and a lot of work to end our crises,” Aoun said in a speech to the palace. “Today marks the end of a mission.” Supporters waved orange flags of his FPM party and posters of the head of state.

Lebanon is suffering the worst economic and financial crisis in its history. In addition, people are still feeling the effects of the devastating explosion in the port of the capital Beirut more than two years ago. Three quarters of the population now lives below the poverty line. The local currency has lost more than 95 percent of its value.

Many Lebanese hold the previous president and his allies in Iran-loyal Hezbollah responsible for the abuses. Aoun, in turn, criticized the head of the central bank, Riad Salamah, who is also under investigation in Europe on suspicion of money laundering. It was not possible to bring Salamah to court, Aoun said. “We are heading into the unknown,” a commentator on Lebanese New TV said.

A banker in the Hamra business district said Aoun had “driven the country into Iranian hands”. One housewife said: “They are celebrating Lebanon is now bankrupt. Most Lebanese live in poverty. We have no electricity and most of our children live abroad to secure their future.” Lebanon has nearly seven million inhabitants. (zag/sda/dpa)