The binding parliamentary consultations to pick a new premier-designate hel by Prwesident Michel Aoun at Baabda palace started as scheduled early Thursday at 10:00.

President Aoun started his consultations with the deputy House Speaker Elias Bou Saab who abstained from nominating anyone for premiership, attributing his choice to the unclear conditions prevailing in the country.

The president also received the Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc that nominated Najib Mikati. The bloc’s chief, Hajj Mohammad Raad, maintained that Lebanon needs an effective government to face the ongoing crisis.

The Lebanese Forces MPs did not nominate anyone. MP Jamil al-Sayyed, MP Fouad Makhzoumi, MP Abdel Rahman al-Bizri, MP Oussama Saad and MP Michel Daher also did not nominate anyone.

The Democratic Gathering, the North of Confrontation bloc, al-Kataeb, and MP Ghassan Skaff nominated ex-President of the U.N. Security Council Nawaf Salam.

MP Firas Saloum, MP Bilal al-Hushaimi and MP Nabil Badr have named Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati for premiership. MP Charbel Massad said that he didn’t name anybody. MP Ihab Matar announced that he has named Dr. Rawaa Hallab for the premier-designate post

Source: Al-Manar English Website