Hariri after Consultations: Atmospheres Were Positive, Cooperation with Aoun and Berri Continue
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stressed on Saturday after concluding the consultations with lawmakers to form a new government that the atmospheres were generally positive, as he assured that joint cooperation with President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri continue in that regard.
“I will brief the President as for the consultations. All the atmospheres are positive since we all want to form a new government as fast as possible,” said Hariri.
To a question on the demands of some blocs to be given sovereign ministerial portfolios, Hariri said: “This is something normal that we will discuss with the President.”
“We are positive as for the cooperation with all political forces in the country to form a national unity government,” he added.
“Parliamentary blocs differ in sizing. They will be represented depending on that.”
Hariri launched two-day consultations on Friday with members of parliament after his designation to form a new government one day before.
Hariri's key support had contributed to the election of Free Patriotic Movement founder and ex-army chief Michel Aoun as Lebanon's 13th president on Monday, which ended around two and a half years of presidential and political vacuum.
Hariri's nomination and Aoun's election have raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.
In a sign that Hariri's task ahead might not be easy, Hizbullah's MPs declined to endorse him for the prime minister post, even though his nomination was all-but-assured.
Hariri is likely to struggle with his government's policy statement, which will have to make reference to Israel, as well as the war in Syria, both potential flashpoints with Hizbullah.
The process of forming a government could take months, with horsetrading likely to revolve around the distribution of key posts like the interior, defense and energy ministries.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/219761 |