Kataeb Vows 'Cooperation' with Aoun, Urges National Unity Govt.

The Kataeb Party announced Monday that it is ready to “cooperate” with President Michel Aoun on the implementation of the platform that he announced in his oath of office.

Congratulating Aoun on his election, the party stressed “its support for the president and its readiness to cooperate to achieve the key points that were mentioned in the oath of office and that have to do with sovereignty, independence, restoring the State's prestige, administrative reforms, and devising a modern and fair law for parliamentary elections.”

In a statement issued after its weekly meeting, Kataeb's politburo also congratulated Saad Hariri on being named Prime Minister-designate, urging the political parties to “facilitate the formation of a national unity government.”

It said a unity cabinet is “necessary” to “secure a unifying start for the new tenure, prepare for the upcoming parliamentary polls, and facilitate the reactivation of the work of state institutions.”

Kataeb did not vote for Aoun in the presidential elections, citing his ties with Hizbullah, Iran and Damascus. The party has however nominated Hariri for the premiership.

“We will deal positively with PM-designate Hariri and we will maintain communication,” Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel said after consultations with Hariri on Friday.

He also revealed that Hariri asked the Kataeb bloc to take part in the government and that the bloc promised to study the matter.

Aoun's election and Hariri's appointment 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 finance, defense and energy ministries.