Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri pushed for the formation of a government of politicians and technocrats, while stressing his support for designated-Prime Minister Hassan Diab.
In a chat with journalists on Thursday, Berri denied media reports that he has called for the formation of a “political government” and that he does not want Diab to lead the new cabinet.
“The situation in the region is very bad and the situation in Lebanon is unfortunately changing from bad to worse,” he noted.
He asked: “Why the delay and why are there new rules that violate formation norms?”
Berri emphasized that he proposed a cabinet that would include politicians and technocrats.
“I purely reject a political government,” he affirmed, stating that the current caretaker government included both politicians and experts.
He added that the new cabinet should consist of representatives from the protest movement that emerged after anti-government demonstrators took to Lebanon’s streets on October 17.
While political parties have divergent views on the form of the new government, they have all declared the need to speed up its formation.
Member of the Free Patriotic Movement’s Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc MP Ibrahim Kenaan reiterated his party’s support for a government of experts.
“Our position has not changed,” he noted, emphasizing the need for a government rescue plan.
Lebanese Forces MP Georges Okais warned against the deterioration of the country’s social and economic conditions, saying in a radio interview that “recent developments are pushing us to stress our demand for a neutral and rescue government, which will seek to find comprehensive solutions to our problems.”
Hezbollah, for its part, is showing flexibility in dealing with the matter.
Following a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai on Thursday, the party’s political council leader, Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed said: “We support any cabinet that is formed quickly and receives consensus.”
