A leading source in the Future Bloc said it was too early to deal with former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's announcement on him being a possible candidate to head a new government by counting the votes he would receive in the upcoming parliamentary consultations.
On Oct. 15, President Michel Aoun is scheduled to hold parliamentary consultations to assign a figure to form a new government.
The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hariri’s final decision to run for the post relied on the willingness of the parliamentary blocs he would consult with to provide political and economic guarantees.
He affirmed that without these guarantees, the French initiative to stem Lebanon’s economic collapse would falter.
Asharq Al-Awsat has learned that Hariri will begin his consultations this weekend, as he will meet on Sunday with former premiers Najib Mikati, Fouad Siniora, and Tamam Salam, and consultations will focus on the post-candidacy phase.
He will also consult with representatives of the Future bloc, and then start consultations early next week with the parliamentary blocs.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has welcomed Hariri’s decision, so did Head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Walid Jumblatt, who seems to be willing to overcome the slight differences and support his candidacy.
Hezbollah, for its part, is studying its position and aims at avoiding any difference with its ally, Berri’s Amal Movement.
The source also pointed out that the financial guarantees demanded by Hariri were limited to the parliamentary blocs’ adoption of the economic agenda presented by French President Emmanuel Macron and which he had approved during their meeting at the Pine Palace.
Political guarantees have become known, he added, explaining that they were based on the formation of a technocrat government for a six-month transitional period to implement the economic reform program.
