Obstacles to the appointment of a new Lebanese prime minister are mainly caused by a dispute over the form of the new government.
While caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri is insisting on a cabinet of technocrats, but not necessarily under his premiership, the Shiiite duo, represented by Amal Movement and Hezbollah, in addition to the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), are demanding a “techno-political” government, which would include the ruling political parties along with experts.
Sources quoted Hariri as saying, during a meeting of the Future Movement political bureau on Monday, that he was keen on the need to form a new government as soon as possible, “today before tomorrow”, in order to get the country out of the current crises.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, the sources said Hariri emphasized that it was not necessary that he presided the government, but insisted on a cabinet of technocrats.
“I support it because it is the only way to get the country out of its various crises,” he was quoted as saying, underlining the urgent need to speed up the holding of binding parliamentary consultations.
The sources quoted Hariri as saying that it was not important for him to assume the premiership.
What is important is forming a government of technocrats “to cause a shock, and meet the demands of the popular movement,” Hariri noted according to the sources.
“The country can no longer bear crises, and now needs to be saved; because the vacuum is deadly,” he added.
In parallel, ministerial sources close to the presidential palace told Asharq Al-Awsat that there were no signs of an imminent invitation for parliamentary consultations.
The sources added that consultations over the name of the new prime minister have resumed, especially after former Minister Mohammed Safadi backed down from becoming the new premier.
