The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri started on Monday the one-day non-binding parliamentary consultations over the formation of the new cabinet.
The various parliamentary blocs submitted their proposals and demands to the PM-designate who will take them into consideration before finalizing the government’s line-up in accordance with the President Michel Aoun.
Hariri has started his consultations by meeting with Speaker of the House, Nabih Berri, before welcoming former Prime Ministers, Najib Mikati, and Tammam Salam.
“Development and Liberation” Parliamentary bloc MP, Anwar Al-Khalil, said that the bloc members have discussed with Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, 15 issues, including commitment to the constitution, national consensus, unity and sovereignty of Lebanon, as well as commitment to the Army-People-Resistance tripartite formula.
Speaking after the bloc’s meeting with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, within the framework of Parliamentary consultations, Khalil added that the bloc had insisted on a sovereign portfolio.
However, the lawmaker did not name the Ministry, but sufficed by saying that “it is known to all which ministry the bloc is referring to.”
“Strong Lebanon” parliamentary bloc MP, caretaker Minister, Gebran Bassil, said that the bloc has asked of Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, to form a national unity government, which includes the largest number possible blocs and political forces.
Member of Parliament, Taymour Jumblatt, announced on behalf of the “Democratic Gathering” parliamentary bloc to have insisted on Hariri, on the formation of a national unity government that takes into account the results of legislative elections.
Head of “Loyalty to the Resistance” parliamentary bloc MP Hajj Mohammad Raad announced that the bloc had requested during its meeting with PM-designate, Saad Hariri, a “weighty” ministerial portfolio.
MP Bahia Hariri announced on behalf of the “Future” parliamentary bloc, in the wake of her meeting with PM-designate Saad Hariri in the framework of parliamentary consultations, that the bloc was in favor of the formation of a government of 30 ministers or less, as well as a fair representation of all the Lebanese regions.
The non-binding parliamentary consultations was wrapped up at 16:00 (Beirut Time) as PM-designate Hariri met all the blocs and the independent MPs.
Hariri stated that optimism and cooperation would title the period of forming the new cabinet, expecting a speedy formation.
Source: Al-Manar Website and NNA
