Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Aoun: Lebanon to Be 'Doomed' Unless Miracle Happens


Mon 21 Sep 2020 | 07:12 PM
Ezzeldin Essam Ezzeldin

Lebanese President Michel Aoun considered that his country will be "doomed" if it does not form a new government, noting that any progression in Lebanon "requires a miracle."

In a speech broadcast on television on Monday, Aoun said, in response to a question whether this means that there is no hope for advancement: "No.  A miracle may happen."

Aoun's statements confirmed the severe difficulties facing the French initiative to get Lebanon out of its economic and financial crisis, by forcing its pided politicians to form a new government and implement reforms.

The crisis, which was exacerbated by the devastating explosion on August 4th in Beirut's port, is the worst threat to Lebanon's stability since the civil war that started between 1975-1990.

Last week, was the deadline agreed upon with Paris to form the government. This process is facing a dilemma due to the demands of the two dominant Shia groups in Lebanon, Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and its ally Amal Movement, to appoint Shia ministers in the government, including the Minister of Finance.

Aoun said that he offered consensual solutions that were not accepted. He described the problem as a confrontation between the Shia parties on one hand and Mustafa Adib, the designated Sunni prime minister and former prime ministers who support him on the other hand.

He said, "We have proposed logical and intermediate solutions to form the government, but they were not accepted by the two parties. Therefore, returning to the constitutional texts and respecting them remains the solution in which there is neither a victor nor a loser."

He explained, "Hezbollah and the Amal movement insist on promoting Shia ministers, among them the Minister of Finance. The Lebanese constitution does not state the allocation of any ministry to any group," suggesting that the sectarian distribution of the sovereign ministries to be canceled.

The Lebanese president answered a journalist after he delivered his speech, about the future of Lebanon if the pided leaders did not agree, he said: "Of course, hell."

"Today we are facing a crisis of forming a government, it was not supposed to happen because of the awaiting entitlements for Lebanon cannot allow any wasted minute."

Aoun appeared to direct criticism of the Shia parties and Adib.

He said: "The designated president does not want to take into account the opinion of the heads of the blocs in distributing portfolios and naming ministers and proposes comprehensive deliberation."

He said that parliamentary blocs cannot be excluded from forming the government, just as a party cannot impose ministers alone.

“With the hardening situation, no solution appears possible, because all the proposed solutions will not satisfy all parties."