Lebanon’s Parliament elected Wednesday Nabih Berri as its head for the coming four years, two weeks after holding historic Parliamentary elections for the first time since 2009.
Berri was elected for the sixth time in a row as Head of Parliament after receiving 98 out of 128 votes, with a total of 29 blank papers.
Following the renewal of Berri’s mandate, President Michel Aoun will kick off Thursday binding parliamentary consultations to name the next Prime Minister, expected to be outgoing PM Saad Hariri after the majority of parliamentary blocs, except Hezbollah, announced they would endorse him for the post.
After his nomination, Hariri would start consultations to form his new government, his third since he was first appointed PM.
"Your confidence renewing my election as president of the legislative council increases my responsibility to preserve this council and all of Lebanon," Berri told MPs after his election.
He highlighted the paramount importance of protecting the constitution, especially its preamble, which stresses coexistence, and prevents naturalization projects.
"The parliament has always been actively present in the face of terrorism and protecting the country's borders; it has taken steps, along with the government, to shun threats away from Lebanon and its people," he said.
The election of Berri and his deputy Elie Ferzli decreased the size of dispute that escalated prior to the elections between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Amal Movement, paving the way for a new phase, which officials from both camps agree would be achieved through joint cooperation.
For his part, Ferzli pledged to play a role in bringing the two parties together.
Following their election on Wednesday, Berri, Ferzli and members of the Parliament Secretariat headed to the Presidential Palace to hold their protocol meeting with President Michel Aoun.
"I hope the mandate of the new Parliament will be productive in terms of legislation and monitoring," Aoun said, highlighting the necessity to meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people.
