Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Thursday, October 8, that he was a candidate to lead a new government, whose mission will be to stem the country’s economic collapse after the huge explosion that destroyed the Port of Beirut.
French President Emmanuel Macron last month called on the Lebanese political class to quickly put in place a new government, the first step necessary to enable a way out of the crisis, but so far the efforts undertaken have not been successful.
“I am clearly a candidate” the formation of a new government, Hariri said in an interview with Lebanese MTV television, “I will not close the door to the only hope that remains for Lebanon to recover”.
The country is facing its worst economic crisis in decades and has yet to recover from the awe-inspiring explosion that devastated the port of Beirut on August 4, killing over 200 people, injuring thousands and enormous damage in the capital.
“Follow the French initiative”, according to Saad Hariri
The president, Michel Aoun, must consult Parliament within a week before appointing the new head of government. Mr. Hariri, for his part, said he was ready to begin discussions with the various political parties as early as next week, “If all are still in agreement on the program” discussed with Mr. Macron.
The former prime minister was forced to resign in October 2019 by major demonstrations calling for a deep renewal of the national political class, accused of being incompetent and corrupt. The subsequent government, led by Hassan Diab, resigned after the explosion.
His successor, Mustapha Adib, also resigned last month, just weeks after his appointment, faced with blockages from the two main Shiite parties, Hezbollah and AMAL (“Movement of the deprived”), in his attempts to form a new government. .
In a multi-faith Lebanon with a delicate political balance, the formation of a new government can take several months of negotiations. But according to Mr. Hariri, the entire political class has come to an understanding with Mr. Macron, who has visited Beirut twice since the explosion, in order to put aside their differences for six months and save the land of disaster.
“Anyone can create problems during the formation of the government, but if the parties really want to stop the collapse and rebuild Beirut, they must follow the French initiative”Saad Hariri said.
