The Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) have announced their intention to withhold confidence from the new government.
LF leader Samir Geagea said on Monday that the Strong Republic bloc would participate in the upcoming parliamentary session, but would not give a vote of confidence to the new cabinet, led by Prime Minister Hassan Diab.
“The Strong Republic bloc will attend the confidence session out of its keenness on the continuity of the constitutional institutions’ work, but will not grant confidence to the new government,” he declared.
“The LF will not attack the government aimlessly,” he noted. “We shall wait and see what it will do.”
“We will wait and see whether the ministers will act according to their professional and moral principles, or whether they will follow the dictates of those who nominated to their posts,” he stated.
MP Bilal Abdullah said Monday that the PSP’s Democratic Gathering parliamentary bloc would most likely withhold confidence from the new government, adding that its deputies would be part of the opposition.
In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio, the Abdullah said the bloc would convene on Tuesday to determine its final position from the new government’s policy statement.
“It is likely that we will participate in the session and withhold confidence,” he remarked.
“The Democratic Gathering will be part of a constructive and responsible opposition,” he added.
“What’s more important than the ministerial statement is the government’s direct action against tax evaders and public money thieves,” he concluded.
