Official media reported that the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, will call for a session to elect a new president of the country on September 29, 2022, despite the lack of political consensus on a specific candidate and diminishing chances of a successful vote.

President Michel Aoun's six-year term ends on October 31, and politicians have already expressed concern about the vacancy of the position, which will deepen the institutional crisis in Lebanon, whose political factions have failed to form a fully empowered government since May.

The National News Agency reported that the session will be held at 11 am on Thursday.

A two-thirds majority of the 128-member parliament is required for a candidate to win the presidency in the first round of voting, after which a simple majority will suffice to secure the position.

Aoun reached the presidency after a presidential vacancy that lasted 29 months during which the parliament was unable to agree on electing a president.

The deadlock ended with a series of understandings that ensured victory for Aoun and his strong ally, Hezbollah, supported by Iran.

Aoun is restricted to a single presidential term, and major political parties have not announced any agreement on his potential successor.