Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat called on PM-designate Saad Hariri to call off the government formation efforts, describing as “futile” any future meeting between President Michel Aoun and Hariri at Bkirki.

Lebanon on Thursday reported a record daily tally of 4,774 new coronavirus cases on the first day of a 25-day lockdown.

The Health Ministry also said that 16 deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday described the protracted delay in the cabinet formation process as a “blatant crime against the Lebanese.”

“What is happening regarding the formation of the government is a blatant crime against the Lebanese,” Geagea said in a statement.

President Michel Aoun met Thursday in Bkirki with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and offered him holidays greetings, hoping the Lebanese will celebrate in better circumstances next year, the National News Agency said.

“Talks also tackled the measures that have been taken to combat the coronavirus pandemic with the lockdown that begins today and lasts until February 1,” NNA added.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Wednesday called on President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to hold what he called a “personal reconciliation meeting.”

“I urge them to hold a contemplative meeting, a personal reconciliation meeting, a meeting responsible for pulling the country out of collapse, through the formation of a salvation government liberated from political and partisan bickering and quotas,” al-Rahi said in a sermon during a mass marking the Christian feast of Epiphany.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Wednesday that “the Gulf reconciliation that happened at Al-UlA summit represents a gain for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and all Arab nations, especially Lebanon.”

In a statement, Geagea noted that “Lebanon used to resort to the Gulf states during its crises and they would always help it.”

The press office of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Tuesday snapped back at the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc after the latter accused Hariri of “fabricating obstacles.”

“The Strong Lebanon bloc has returned to its favorite policy of holding others responsible for the obstacles that it deliberately fabricates,” the press office said in a statement.

The Free Patriotic Movement-led Strong Lebanon bloc on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, calling on him to “shoulder his responsibilities.”

In a statement issued after its weekly e-meeting under the chairmanship of FPM chief Jebran Bassil, the bloc asked Hariri to “perform his national and constitutional duties and stop consuming time.”

Former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said in an interview aired Monday that French investigators are coming to question him in Lebanon over some legal challenges in France, asking why don't the Japanese do the same thing.

Ghosn's comments came two weeks after a Lebanese justice ministry official said a team of French investigators will come to Beirut in January to participate in interrogating the former auto executives.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea again criticized Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday saying Lebanon is enduring collapse and humiliation because of Hizbullah’s Resistance.