Consultations have begun.. Parliamentary blocs are arriving to the Council for a peace meeting, and the positions are taking place!
The non-binding parliamentary consultations conducted by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, with the parliamentary blocs and independent representatives, began at ten o’clock this morning, and will extend until tomorrow, Thursday.
The beginning of the consultations witnessed a boycott of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, who did not appear at his appointed time with the Prime Minister-designate, so Salam began his meetings with the Deputy Speaker of the House, Representative Elias Bou Saab.
Bou Saab confirmed after the meeting that there is hope and an opportunity to form a government, and we must act in a rational and non-exclusionary manner.”
Bou Saab added: “There is a need to clarify some matters, and I hope that we will reach a solution and be able to form a government,” noting that he informed Salam that “he does not have any personal demands, and that the matter relates to the manner in which the Prime Minister-designate performs to form a government capable of giving hope to the Lebanese.” And the international community.”
He pointed out that “Nawaf Salam’s performance in forming the government will be unconventional, and will differ from the methods used in forming previous governments.”
“Change” coalition: for a mini-government away from party quotas
President Salam also met with the “Change” coalition, on whose behalf Representative Mark Daou spoke, saying that we discussed the form of the government and its working mechanism, to represent the ambition of the Lebanese to save the country in the right direction.
He added: “We called for a smaller government consisting of new faces, including women, away from party quotas, with the necessity of playing a major political role, no mixing of the prosecution with the ministry, and no return to the tripartite “people’s resistance army,” with some legislative powers.”
He continued: “We called for a quick formation and we consider ourselves represented by President Aoun and President Salam. The most important thing is the national consensus to start saving Lebanon financially and economically.”
For his part, MP Waddah Al-Sadiq said: “The country has reached destruction. Let us see the Aoun-Salam experience. There is democracy and we believe in the constitution and parliamentary work.”
As for MP Michel Al-Duwaihy, he said: “I call on the Lebanese to protect the speech of the oath.” No one is excluded, and we must extend our hands to support the covenant, otherwise the rescue process will be hindered.” He called on the duo to meet, saying: “This country is for everyone, and we must all participate in its renaissance.”
In turn, Representative Taymour Jumblatt spoke after the “Democratic Gathering” bloc’s meeting with the president-designate, noting that “we have an opportunity to build the state of the future.”
He pointed out that the meeting focused on “the necessity of communicating with everyone and opening a dialogue with everyone, as no one can cancel the other out.”
Jumblatt also hoped that “political actors would ease the pressures and demands on Presidents Joseph Aoun and Salam.”
Kanaan: All obstacles fall before the goals of the oath speech
In addition, Representative Ibrahim Kanaan, on behalf of the “Independent Consultative Meeting,” after the meeting with the president-designate, confirmed that “President Salam has the desire to communicate with everyone and share them,” and said: “We hope that the duo will put our hands in each other’s hands, and in the face of the goals of the oath speech, they will fall.” “All the obstacles.”
Kanaan added: “The prime minister-designate is open-minded and we discussed all matters, including the issue of the government and its form. The most important thing is that there be a political will to make the government and the era successful.”
He stressed that “the most important thing is to save Lebanon and get out of the dark tunnel.”
While the National Moderation Bloc congratulated the president-designate, MP Sajia Attia said on behalf of the bloc: “President Salam emphasized the principle of balanced development, and we hope that the development spirit will be reflected in serving the country.”
Attiya wished to form a government as quickly as possible, saying: We called for a government that represents the components of the country to build a new Lebanon.
He added: We have put all our capabilities into the service of this government, which we hope to form quickly. What is important is that the right person is chosen in the right place. I believe in the wisdom of Speaker Berri, and it is not possible to build a state without the participation of everyone.
For his part, Representative Gebran Bassil, on behalf of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc, considered that “we must rally around the prime minister-designate, as well as President Joseph Aoun, and there is an opportunity for a new balance in the country, for an effective partnership, and reforming what must be reformed, and calling it a defeat is not a defeat for anyone.”
He added: “We do not accept the exclusion or marginalization of anyone, and we demand in the ministerial statement the implementation of 1701, the ceasefire, and the extension of state authority over all Lebanese lands.”
Bassil said: “We did not ask the Prime Minister-designate for anything regarding the governmental issue, and we are ready to help. In our opinion, the government should be representative of the parliamentary forces, but of specialists.”
President Nawaf Salam continues composition consultations in the House of Representatives today, where he receives all parliamentary blocs in succession, and will resume consultations tomorrow with independent representatives.
