Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Lebanon.. Hariri Injects Optimism into Cabinet Forming


Mon 26 Oct 2020 | 07:16 PM
Yassmine Elsayed

The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, affirmed today, Monday, that the mood for forming the new government is "positive," indicating that he is open to dialogue.

Earlier, the Lebanese President had assigned Hariri to form a government, a year after his resignation, under pressure from popular protests against the ruling elite. Hariri promised to form a government of specialists to carry out reforms contained in a French initiative aimed at opening the door to foreign aid.

Al-Jumhuriya newspaper quoted Hariri saying: "If the intentions of the parties are truly clear, as it appears in public, then the formation of the government can be completed soon and perhaps within a week," noting that the country's situation cannot be delayed.

Hariri clarified: "Everything can be subject to discussion and understanding, but what is important and constant for me is that the French initiative must remain the focus and the basis."

Hariri stressed that an apology for forming the government is "not an option," saying: "It is known that my half is Iraqi, because my mother is of Iraqi origin, and therefore I am stubborn when necessary."

Hariri faces great challenges in obtaining approval for the ministerial formation due to the sectarian quota system in Lebanon. The government must resolve a list of problems, including a banking crisis and a devaluation of the currency.