Beirut: Some Lebanese believe that filling the post of president, which is not a mere ceremonial post as mistakenly assumed by detractors, could stir things up in a country divided by sectarian tensions and reeling under the impact of the civil war in Syria.

After 25 failed gatherings when members of parliament could not ensure a quorum to elect a head of state, the 128 deputies presumably entrusted with the task to chose the president of the republic established a record of sorts as their pretended to govern without, however, fulfilling their constitutional duties.

They only managed to vote for an extension to their own term of office, under the pretense that existing electoral laws were inadequate or not representative of the body politic.

In reality, what Lebanon faced was nothing short of a constitutional crisis, as one party opted to use legal channels to derail state institutions, precisely to grant itself privileges it could not otherwise secure.

For now, two leading candidates for president grace the body politic, 63-year-old Samir Geagea, the head of the Lebanese Forces and the presumed March 14 alliance designee, and 81-year-old Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun, of the March 8 alliance that is led by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

A few other candidates have thrown their names into the ring but, like the Progressive Socialist Party designee, Henri Helou, they are spoilers rather than serious contenders.

Lebanese Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, or former minister Jean Obeid, stood better chances although few could foresee a compromise candidate able to unite every political current around his or her persona.

Given the plethora of inactivity and unwillingness to settle on someone who could add value to the country, most Lebanese seem to have given up on their representatives, even if few are able to mobilize against the establishment in a new Cedars Revolution that guaranteed Syrian military withdrawal after a three-decades-old occupation.

In 2015, Muslims and Christians alike are increasingly wary of the all consuming regional wars that, some believe, will eventually spillover into this country. Under the circumstances, many hope that a head of state ought to be chosen quickly to further isolate Beirut from the violence that has become common fare. A few others are persuaded that no president is akin to a peaceful settlement, ostensibly because picking the wrong candidate could accelerate what no one wishes to see: renewed civil war.

Even if most citizens are accustomed to political deadlock, and at the dawn of the summer festival season when half-a-dozen international class celebrations are scheduled in Baalbek, Beit Al Deen, Jounieh, Jbeil and elsewhere, most Lebanese are getting ready to enjoy their lives, to attend concerts and gala events that cherish life instead of glorifying death. No one wishes to think about or worry about political developments over which they have no control whatsoever. All anticipate steady tourist visitors to grace the country this summer to show the challenged that no matter how many roadblocks are placed in front of those who place the interests of the country above everything else, there is still a determination to persist.

For most citizens, it is a given that a head of state will eventually be elected even if the process is proving to be unnecessarily long, and a hostage to foreign powers anxious to manipulate local chieftains to advance non-Lebanese interests.