Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Monday his meeting with President Michel Aoun on the new government formation was “encouraging” as talks intensified to speed up the process.
Hariri’s positive statement came after his first consultation with Aoun over his possible candidacy for the premiership and the formation of the new government, with binding parliamentary consultations to designate the new PM set for Thursday.
Hariri said that he informed Aoun that he would be sending a delegation to communicate with all the parliamentary blocs to make sure they are committed to the entire text of the French initiative that was presented by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Beirut last month.
"I am convinced that the French initiative is the last and only chance for Lebanon [to be rescued]" Hariri said, adding that the French president has vowed to rescue Lebanon from its economic and financial woes, if a mission government is formed.
Hariri said that the reforms required of the new government are detailed in the French proposal which will be the basis of the ministerial statement and will lead Macron to rally the international community in support of Lebanon.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
