For the third year in a row, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will be representing Lebanon in the Arab Summit, amid a vacuum at the top state post and the absence of any indications of ending the presidential crisis before the summit in May.

Mikati received an invitation from the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to participate in the 33rd regular session of the Council of the League of Arab States, which will be held on Thursday, May 16.

In his message, the King of Bahrain expressed his desire to “strengthen the process of joint Arab action and serve the interests of the Arab nation...” He stressed that Mikati’s “personal participation in the work of this important summit will have a great impact in light of the difficult circumstances and grave challenges facing our Arab nation...”

This will be the fourth time that Mikati participates in the Arab Summit at the head of a ministerial delegation, since the failure to elect a new president after the end of General Michel Aoun’s term in October 2022.

Lebanon’s constitution stipulates that the powers of the President of the Republic are transferred to the government in case of a presidential vacuum.

In this context, Legal expert Said Malek noted that the absence of the President of the Republic causes great harm to Lebanon’s image and representation abroad.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Lebanon is supposed to be represented by its president in the upcoming Arab summit, but in light of the presidential vacuum, the prime minister represents the state in accordance with the provisions of Article 62.”

This comes in light of divisions in Lebanon over the jurisdictions of the caretaker government, which some consider to be surpassing its constitutional powers. Mikati is also subject to widespread criticism, especially from some Christian parties and the Maronite Patriarch, Beshara al-Rai.