Lebanon has now entered its third year without a head of state, and political analysts say the country is paying the price for it. The Lebanese presidency has been vacant since Michel Suleiman's term expired on May the twenty fifth, 2014. Since then, Lebanon's parliament has held 39 rounds of voting, but all have failed to elect a new president. 

The failures have been blamed on differences between the two sides of the parliament, namely, the pro US and Saudi March the Fourteenth alliance, and the March the Eighth alliance, which has close ties with Iran and Russia.

One Lebanese political commentator says there are regional political factors behind the vacant status of the country's leadership. 

Another political analyst said the lack of president has affected Lebanon in many ways, especially in terms of the economy. 

The United Nations has on many occasions urged Lebanon to elect a president. However, analysts say that with so many things going on in the Middle East, regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia haven't been able to focus on the issue. And without their support, electing a new head of state won't be easy for Lebanon.