The first day of the binding parliamentary consultations to designate a new prime minister ended at the Baabda presidential palace under the chairmanship of President Michel Aoun, where 86 deputies nominated head of the Future Movement MP Saad Hariri to head to next government.
Caretaker Prime Minister Tammam Salam was the first to meet with the president, hoping that the efforts will lead to a national unity cabinet headed by Saad Hariri.
President Aoun then received former PM Fouad Siniora, who stated that he wished him success and discussed with him issues that concern the Lebanese people.
“I nominated Saad Hariri to head the new cabinet,” he announced after the meeting.
Afterwards, former PM Saad Hariri met with Aoun and left without making a statement.
For his part, MP Farid Makari also nominated Hariri for the premiership, noting that “he has the required qualities that qualify him for the position of the prime minister.”
This as the meetings with parliamentary blocs followed, where Siniora declared on behalf of the Future bloc (with the absence of MP Ahmad Fatfat) the nomination of Hariri for premiership, hoping that the result will come up in favor of Hariri.
The Free Patriotic Movement bloc also nominated Hariri to head the new cabinet.
“We dreamed and we fought so that the true representatives of the people meet, and together we will build a state,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan said on behalf of the bloc.
Similarly, MP Michel Murr and MP Nayla Tueini also nominated Hariri for the premiership.
Tourism Minister Michel Faraon also nominated Hariri for premiership, hoping that the process of forming a cabinet will be facilitated by all the factions.
Telecommunication Minister Boutros Harb visited President Aoun in Baabda palace, where he stressed his support for Hariri as prime minister, urging for the respect of the Constitution and the laws.
The Kataeb bloc met with President Aoun, where MP Samy Gemayel stressed that his bloc agreed to nominate Hariri for the premiership, “because Lebanon has reached an era of moderation.”
Gemayel also congratulated Aoun on his election, stressing that the Kataeb will always stand by him as long as his efforts serve the interest of Lebanon.
For his part, head of the Lebanese Democratic Party Talal Erslan nominated Hariri to be the next prime minister.
However, Marada Movement chief MP Sleiman Frangieh did not attend the consultations taking place at the Baabda Palace, as only MPs Estephan Douaihy and Salim Karam met with the president and declared the bloc’s support for Hariri to form the new cabinet.
In turn, the Syrian Social Nationalist Party’s bloc declared that it has informed President Aoun of its decision, while the Baath party did not nominate anyone.
Concluding the consultations, the Democratic Gathering headed by MP Walid Jumblatt declared after meeting Aoun that they will nominate Hariri for the premiership.
From Ain al-Tineh, member of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Fayad stated that the bloc’s meeting at the consultations was delayed for further discussions.
Aoun is set to pursue the consultations on Thursday, while the last meeting has been reserved for Speaker Nabih Berri in coordination between the Protocol of the Parliament and that of the concerned authorities of the Presidential Palace.