Who’s best for the economy?

As Lebanon’s politicians continue to horse-trade behind closed doors over the country’s next president, it is worth considering the views of perhaps the most regularly forgotten set of people in the country — its citizens. Executive, together with polling agency Ipsos, carried out a survey of 1501 citizens from across the country on whom they want to see in Baabda Palace by the end of this month. The aim was to get a deeper understanding of their dreams and expectations for the president of the republic, and in particular who they thought would be the best candidate to steer the country through tough times both economically and politically. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a deeply polarized country, there was little consensus: Those polled mentioned the names of  more than 30 Maronite Christians — by convention the only sect allowed the presidency. Yet when asked, “Which Maronite figure would you personally have as