Lebanon’s former Prime Minister and head of Al-Mustaqbal Movement Saad Hariri rejected to participate in the national dialogue called for by President Michel Aoun, noting that such initiative should take place after the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Aoun is expected to receive a similar response from the Lebanese Forces.
In a statement, Hariri’s press office announced that the former premier had announced he would not partake in the all-party talks proposed by Aoun, because “any dialogue at this level must take place after the parliamentary elections.”
Sources close to the Lebanese Presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun contacted heads of parties and parliamentary blocs to invite them to bilateral meetings to discuss the possibility to hold all-party talks.
In a speech earlier this month, the president called for an urgent dialogue to reach an understanding on three main issues, namely the expanded administrative and financial decentralization, the defense strategy and the financial recovery plan.
While most political parties are yet to announce their official position on Aoun’s invitation, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had previously asserted that he welcomed any national dialogue. The same stance was expressed by the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP).
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Lebanese Forces Media and Communications Officer Charles Jabbour noted that the LF would not heed the president’s call.
He stressed that the priority was to hold the parliamentary elections “to produce a new authority that enjoys popular credibility and that is qualified to hold a national dialogue leading to the establishment of an actual state.”
