Lebanon’s Cabinet held its last session on Monday and approved dozens of pending articles, mainly related to the disputed electricity sector, hours before it turned into a caretaker government at the end of Parliament's term on May 21.
As of Tuesday, the country would face a number of constitutional schedules after President Michel Aoun calls for parliamentary binding consultations to appoint the next Prime Minister, who will be tasked to form the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the new Parliament will hold its general assembly on Wednesday to elect a new Speaker and his deputy.
While it remains almost certain that current Speaker Nabih Berri will be re-elected for another term, it is still uncertain who will be elected as his deputy. Both the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces are competing on the post.
On Monday, LF leader Samir Geagea said the party is backing the candidature of MP Anis Nassar while the Free Patriotic Movement would decide on Tuesday whether to support the candidacy of MPs Elias Bou Saab or Elias Ferzli.
Similar to the Speakership, the appointment of a new prime minister would not constitute a hard task after most parliamentary blocs decided to name current Prime Minister Saad Hariri for the position.
Former Justice Minister Chakib Kortbawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that according to the Lebanese Constitution, the second clause of Article 64 stipulates that the appointed PM shall conduct the parliamentary consultations for forming the government and he should sign, with the President, the Decree of its formation.
“The government must present its general statement of policy to the Chamber to gain its confidence within 30 days of the Decree's issuance date in which the government was formed.
The government shall not exercise its powers before it gains confidence nor after it has resigned or is considered resigned, except in the narrow sense of a caretaker government,” he said, quoting the text of the Constitution.
Following the cabinet session on Monday, outgoing Information Minister Melhem Riachi said that the government appointed Rony Lahoud as the Director General of the Public Corporation for Housing for a four year term and agreed to prepare a plan to save the electricity sector, in accordance with the proposals of Water and Energy Minister, Cesar Abi Khalil.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said the cabinet approved the launch of a new tender through the administration of tenders to secure 850 megawatts.
Quoting sources, it said the Cabinet also approved the transfer of the agreement with the executing company of Deir Ammar plant to the BOT system.
Speaking before the Cabinet session held Monday, Aoun said he wished the soon-to-be caretaker ministers would exercise their caretaking task with full responsibility, and focus on facilitating administrative matters and the citizens' affairs.
