BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Prime Minister Tammam Salam said Thursday, May 22, that the presidential void will not be a long one and urged various political groups to elect a new head of state as soon as possible.

Speaking at the beginning of a cabinet session at the Grand Serail, hours after parliament failed to hold a session to elect a president for lack of the required two-thirds quorum, Salam said an extended void in the presidency would have detrimental effects on the country.

The cabinet convened with 100 items on its agenda. The government will meet again on Friday at the Baabda Presidential Palace. The session will be the last one for the cabinet during President Michel Sleiman’s mandate. The departing president will hold a farewell dinner banquet to the ministers and their spouses afterwards.