With the formation of Lebanon's new government arises the differences between political parties over the distribution of governmental portfolios.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri assured the Lebanese that the government will be formed before the end of the year, as he slammed reports alleging that its formation will be lengthy, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri was named as Lebanon's new prime minister on Thursday, the office of President Michel Aoun announced.

“After the necessary parliamentary consultations... the president has entrusted Saad Hariri with the formation of a government,” said a statement read by the president's chief of staff Antoine Chouqair.

Hizbullah's Loyalty to the Resistance bloc did not name ex-PM Saad Hariri for the premiership, while head of the Development and Liberation bloc Speaker Nabih Berri said it is time to “pay back the debt” to Hariri as his bloc named him prime minister during the binding parliamentary consultations on Thursday with newly elected President General Michel Aoun.

Speaking on behalf of the bloc, MP Mohammed Raad said: “We did not name anyone for the post of prime minister.”

Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to “return the favor” and announce his support for al-Mustaqbal Movement chief Saad Hariri for the post of premiership, after some positive signals that Hariri had received in that regard.

The binding parliamentary consultations with elected President Michel Aoun for the designation of a new premier kicked off on Wednesday at the presidential palace in Baabda.

MP Walid Jumblat assured on Wednesday that his parliamentary bloc will nominate al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri for the premiership post, As Safir daily reported.

“The Democratic Gathering bloc will name Hariri,” the Progressive Socialist Party leader told the daily, as he called for the formation of a “national unity government” that includes all political factions so that it is capable of confronting the challenges facing Lebanon.

Caretaker Minister of Telecommunications, Butros Harb said on Tuesday that everybody must cooperate with the newly elected president General Michel Aoun for the sake of Lebanon's best interest.

“General Michel Aoun is now president for all the Lebanese and this is how we shall deal with him; it is everybody's duty to cooperate with him for the sake of national interest,” Harb said on Twitter.

Speaker Nabih Berri lauded the oath of office taken by President Michel Aoun, as he stressed the necessity to restore the State's activity now that a president has been elected, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“What I and the Lebanese have wished for has become true. Now we have a president which means that the phase of action must start,” visitors to Berri quoted him as saying.

Hizbullah will not name al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri for the post of premiership, al-Akhbar daily reported on Tuesday.

The daily pointed out to expectations and agreements that were reached before the presidential election that suggested assigning MP Hariri at the head of the government.