Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai called on President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to hold a personal reconciliation meeting amid disagreement between the two leaders over the formation of a new government.
Last week, Hariri’s office accused Aoun’s son-in-law and head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Jebran Bassil, of deliberately creating obstacles to obstruct the formation of the cabinet.
During Sunday mass at Bkirki, Rai criticized the politicians for their insistence on linking solutions to Lebanon’s problems to external factors and players.
“It is truly shameful to be stuck on differences over names and portfolios, while the state is at risk of a permanent collapse.,” he added as Lebanon is enduring its worst economic crisis in its modern history.
“We are aware that there are difficulties facing the efforts to form a government, but the enormous challenges require a heroic stance. The heroic position here allows for the salvation of Lebanon, because the formation of the government is the compulsory, natural and constitutional prelude to bringing Lebanese life back to normal.”
Last week, Aoun visited Bkirki and held a 45-minute meeting with Rai to discuss general affairs.
