After the 18th meeting aimed at forming the new government, the row between President Michel Aoun and prime minister-designate Saad Hariri exploded on Monday.

The 30-minute meeting between Aoun and Hariri at Baabda Palace failed to achieve any progress towards the cabinet formation; it even indicated that such target is still far away from the efforts exerted in this regard.

Hariri stated that Aoun sent him a day earlier (Sunday) a list which includes the distribution of the portfolios over the sects in the new government and that the president asked him to fill in the names of the ministers.

Hariri stressed that the PM-designate may never fill in names, adding that, according to the Constitution, the President does not have any role in the cabinet formation.

The prime minister-designate stressed that he submitted a full governmental line-up last December, adding that he showed readiness to take the President’s suggestions and proposals into consideration.

The premier-designate indicated that he tried to cooperative regarding the nomination of the interior minister, noting that Aoun insisted on seizing the one-third veto share in the new government.

Hariri indicated he intends to address the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, adding that he urged Aoun to obtain the last chance to rescue the nation from.

Hariri was tasked to form the new government on October 22, 2021, after he was nominated by 65 MPs during the parliamentary consultations held by President Aoun at Baabda Palace.

Source: Al-Manar Eglish Website