TEHRAN, May 23 - Lebanese lawmakers overwhelmingly re-elected the country's longtime parliament speaker to the post on Wednesday, giving the 80-year-old monopoly of the office for three decades now.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Nabih Berri has held the post since 1992.
The 128-seat assembly voted 98 in favor of Berri, with 29 blank ballots and one that was annulled. The newly elected parliament convened Wednesday for the first time after May 6 nationwide balloting. It's Berri's sixth consecutive term; he ran unchallenged.
The country's first parliamentary elections in nine years ended years of political stalemate over a new election law and repeated extension of the parliament's terms.
Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri called Berri a "national symbol."
The oldest member of parliament, 86-year-old Michel Murr commended Berri for successfully managing the country's sectarian politics over the years, preventing conflict.
"I extend my sincere thanks, for the sixth time, to the members of parliament for their confidence in renewing my responsibilities as parliament speaker," Berri said, addressing the assembly following the vote.
Berri said Lebanon's President Michel Aoun will begin on Thursday consultations with lawmakers to pick a prime minister-designate, AP reported.
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