October 21, 2020•Update: October 22, 2020
BEIRUT, Lebanon
Lebanese President Michel Aoun vowed Wednesday to shoulder his responsibility in designating a prime minister to form a new government to deal with the country's economic crisis.
“I will stay committed to the process and hope that everyone thinks well about the designation and [government] formation,” Aoun said in a televised address.
“I have said my word and I will not walk away,” Aoun stressed.
Lebanon has been without a government since the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s cabinet in August following a mass explosion at Beirut’s port.
Talks between the country’s sectarian parties have failed to agree on the formation of a new government to carry out reforms needed to cruise the country out of its current economic crisis.
Aoun said that corruption has become “institutionally organized and deep-rooted” in Lebanon.
Since October 2019, Lebanon has been mired by protests over the deterioration of the economic conditions, unemployment and the imposition of extra taxes.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara
