Lebanon's premier-designate says government formation will not be delayed

BEIRUT

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam announced Friday that he has a preliminary vision for the government, which he plans to present to President Joseph Aoun, stressing that the government formation process will not be delayed.

Salam’s remarks came during a press conference held after his meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at the Ayn al-Tineh headquarters in western Beirut.

“I and Speaker Berri are on the same page, following the constitution. I will remain in contact with him until the government is formed,” Salam stated.

He added that parliamentary consultations had not concluded on Thursday, noting that there is a consensus among the blocs on the urgency of working toward the country's recovery.

“There is no choice but to reach an understanding. No one will be allowed to delay the formation of the government,” Salam stressed.

Speaker Berri described the meeting with Salam as "promising," according to a statement from his media office.

On Thursday, Salam completed the second day of non-binding parliamentary consultations to form a government amid a boycott by MPs representing the Shia Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc affiliated with Hezbollah and the Amal Movement’s Development and Liberation Bloc.

Parliamentary consultations to form a government are based on Article 64 of the Lebanese Constitution. However, the prime minister-designate is not constitutionally obligated to adhere to the nominations of parliamentary blocs and MPs regarding ministerial portfolios.

On Monday, President Joseph Aoun summoned Salam, a judge at the International Court of Justice, to form a new government after Salam received 84 out of 128 parliamentary votes.

By tradition, Lebanon’s prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, the president a Maronite Christian, and the speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim.

Following a two-year presidential vacuum due to political disagreements, the Lebanese Parliament elected Aoun as president on Jan. 9 with a majority of 99 votes.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi