Lebanese parliamentarians failed on Monday in their sixth attempt to elect a new president, extending the political vacuum that emerged when former President Michel Sleiman’s term ended two weeks ago.

Lebanese parliamentarians failed on Monday in their sixth attempt to elect a new president, extending the political vacuum that emerged when former President Michel Sleiman's term ended two weeks ago.

Politicians from the March 8 coalition boycotted Monday's parliamentary session, depriving it of a quorum.

Speaker Nabih Berri said parliament would meet again on June 18 for another attempt to break the deadlock.

Political power in Lebanon is divided among religious communities, with the presidency allocated to a Maronite Christian, the parliament speaker's post to a Shi'ite Muslim and the prime minister's to a Sunni Muslim. Prime Minister Tammam Salam's government has taken over some presidential duties in the interim.

Central Bank governor Riad Salameh said on Monday the deadlock would affect Lebanon's economy, already struggling to cope with falling tourism revenues and the burden of hosting more than 1 million Syrian refugees, around a quarter of Lebanon's population.