Lebanon Begins Parliamentary Consultations to Name PM
Lebanon begins its binding parliamentary consultations on Thursday to name a new prime minister for the crisis-hit country, nearly a month after the previous appointee failed to form a government.
Parliamentary blocs headed to Baabda Palace to name their nominee for the post, amid reports that ex-PM Saad Hariri is expected to make a comeback at the helm of the next government.
Hariri resigned as prime minister in October 2019 in the wake of unprecedented street protests.
Most parliamentary blocs have pledged their support, although President Michel Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement are against the nomination.
However, the FPM's allies, Hizbullah and Amal movement, are expected to endorse Hariri.
Ex-PM Najib Miqati was the first to meet Aoun, he said: “I named Prime Minister Hariri to be at the helm of the new government, hoping that all efforts would be combined to make his work a success and form an effective government.”
After Miqati, ex-PM Saad Hariri, the sole candidate for the PM post, met with Aoun and left without making a statement to reporters.
For his part, ex-PM Tammam Salam told reporters he hopes that everyone would facilitate Hariri’s mission.
“We are in the framework of salvaging the country from the great collapse. We are facing a new attempt to save the country under international backing mainly from French President Emmanuel Macron,” said Salam.
“I hope everyone will cooperate with Hariri to form a government away from obstruction, disputes and disruption. Time must not be wasted,” he added.
“I named Hariri, and we hope that a government is formed to rescue the country and stop it from further collapse,” said Deputy Speaker Elie Ferzli.
Al-Mustaqbal bloc, eventually, named Hariri while Hizbullah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc did not name any candidate, But MP Mohammed Raad “reflected a positive atmosphere,” according to LBCI.
“We have not named anyone to lead the government, maybe that would contribute to maintaining a positive climate that broadens the required understanding,” Raad said.
The Lebanese National bloc of the Marada Movement, the Democratic Gathering bloc of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Independent Center bloc led by MP Jean Obeid named Hariri as their candidate.
“We fear for Lebanon's fate and solutions are needed. We want a new government as soon as possible and we named Hariri for the post,” the Social Nationalist bloc led by Asaad Hardan said. Local media had expected the bloc to abstain from naming Hariri.
Arguing that because Hariri was the “sole candidate for the post,” the Consultative Gathering bloc “abstained” from naming the ex-PM, said MP ElWalid Sukkarieh.
Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan of the Strong Republic bloc said: "We did not name any candidate for the post because we do not want our choice to be misinterpreted. We believe the current candidate has a majority of the component he represents."
Independent MPs Michel Daher, Eddie Demerjian, Nouhad Mashnouq, and Jihad el-Samad voted in favor of Hariri.
MP Jean Talouzian of the Strong Republic bloc attended the consultations individually and voted in favor of the ex-PM.
It seems Lebanon “is heading to new lows, evident from the quarrels of the presidencies and the inability to deal with the crises while people are being killed, starved, deported, exiled, and their money stolen,” said independent MP Ousama Saad without naming a candidate.
Independent lawmakers Fouad Makhzoumi, Chamel Roukouz and Jamil el-Sayyed did not name a candidate.
Leader of the largest Christian parliamentary bloc MP Jebran Bassil said: "Our position not to name anyone for the post has been announced for some time now because we prefer a reform government composed of specialists beginning with its leader.”
The Mountain Guarantee bloc "decided not to back Hariri's nomination for the post."
The Armenian Deputies bloc and the Development and Liberation bloc of Amal party led by Speaker Nabih Berri said they back Hariri's designation to form the new government.
