Hariri Leaves for Paris on Family Visit

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri left for Paris Thursday evening for a “brief family visit,” his office said.

Hariri has met in recent days with Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party chief ex-MP Walid Jumblat as part of a renewed and upbeat drive to form the new government.

The issue of representing the Consultative Gathering, a grouping of six Hizbullah-backed Sunni MPs, has delayed the formation process for several months now. Wrangling over Christian and Druze representation had also delayed the process before the parties managed to reach settlements over shares.

Berri has quoted Hariri as saying that the government could be formed “within a week or less.”

Hariri himself announced Wednesday that he will “settle the issue” next week.