The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Hassan Diab, announced in a television interview broadcast yesterday, that he is seeking to form a government of specialists and independents, which the protesters have been calling on the streets for two months, expecting to have full American and European support.
On Thursday, President of the Republic Michel Aoun tasked Diab (60 years) to form a new government, following the end of consultations in which he won the support of Hezbollah representatives and their allies, while the most prominent representatives of the Sunni community to which he belongs, withheld their voices from him, led by former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, and representatives He leads the Future Movement.
"The goal is to have a government of specialists, and at the same time, be independent, in order to deal with life and living matters," Diab said, in the hope that he can form it "within a month, or within a maximum of six weeks."
He explained, "Everyone is willing to cooperate in order for Lebanon to have a distinguished government that does not resemble the previous government, if it is in the proportion of specialists in the government, or at the level of women."
And it often takes several months for the government in Lebanon, the country whose regime is based on sectarian and political quotas, to be formed due to the dispute between the main powers over the distribution of bags and rations.
Diab’s task in forming the government will not be easy, given the accelerated economic deterioration. On the one hand, it faces an unprecedented popular protest movement calling for a government of specialists unrelated to the political class, and on the one hand, the international community, which links its financial support to the formation of a reformist government.
Diab said he expects "the full support of the Europeans and the United States," adding, "I believe that the Americans, when forming a government in this way, will support it, because its goal is to save the situation in Lebanon, if it is in terms of the economic or social situation."
He refused to name his government the "government of Hezbollah." He said, "It is ridiculous ... this government will be the face of Lebanon, and it will not be the government of a certain political group."
Diab, who intends to launch the movement of consultations with parliamentary blocs, will hold meetings with former heads of government, as required by the protocol, including to date Hariri and former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss.
Diab, who had a short political experience other than his academic career at the American University of Beirut, where he held the position of its vice president, did not enjoy the support of the most prominent representatives of the Sunni community, while he received absolute support from Hezbollah and his ally, the Amal movement led by Speaker Nabih Berri, and the Free Patriotic Movement, the President’s Party. Lebanese. After being assigned to form the government, a number of Hariri supporters gathered in front of Diab's house in Beirut, chanting slogans against him. Groups have cut key roads in Tripoli and Akkar, and in Beirut, in protest at its name.
Despite Hariri calling on his supporters at night to "reject any invitation to take to the street or cut off roads", the moves were renewed yesterday, with protesters cutting main roads in Akkar, and several neighborhoods in Beirut are strongholds of the Future Movement. There was a stampede in the Corniche al-Mazraa locality, between angry protesters and army personnel who tried to prevent them from blocking a main road with dirt and stones.
In connection, four soldiers were wounded in the Corniche al-Mazraa district in Beirut, in clashes with protesters protesting the assignment of Hassan Diab to form a new government. The four soldiers were injured, as a number of protesters threw stones at them, when protesters in the Corniche al-Mazraa area brought a truck carrying the dust to empty it and cut off the road, refusing to assign Diab to form the new government, and the army forces prevented them. A force of the Lebanese army arrived at the scene of the confrontations. The local Al-Jadeed channel reported that the protesters are supporters of Saad Hariri, the caretaker government, and they are calling for Hariri's return to head the new government.
Later, the army managed to open the road in the Corniche of Mazraa, after the protesters retreated. A number of protesters had blocked roads yesterday morning in some areas of northern Lebanon, east and south Beirut, in protest against Hassan Diab's mandate to form the government. Protesters cut off the main and secondary roads in the city of Tripoli, which witnessed at night marches, roads, and protests against the assignment of Hassan Diab to form the government, and most educational institutions closed their doors to students. And the army managed to open the sea road to traffic, as well as some internal roads in Tripoli. Lebanon has been witnessing protests since October 17th, to demand the formation of a government to save technocrats, hold early parliamentary elections, reduce the voting age to 18 years, address economic conditions, recover stolen funds, and hold corrupt people to account. The protesters confirm their continued movement until the demands are met.
An American official discusses with Aoun the situation in Lebanon
The US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, David Hill, announced in a statement after his meeting with the President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, that he was in Lebanon “at the request of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to meet with the Lebanese leaders in order to discuss the current situation here. This visit reflects the strength of the partnership between our two countries. ”
This came in statements made by David Hill, and carried by the National Information Agency yesterday, in which he said: “I am here to encourage political leaders in Lebanon to commit to and implement targeted and sustainable reforms that can lead to a stable, prosperous and secure Lebanon. It is time to leave partisan interests aside, work for the national interest, advance reforms, and form a government that is committed to making those reforms, and which it can undertake. We have no role in saying who should take over the presidency and formation of the government. ”
He added, “The inclusive, largely non-sectarian, and peaceful protests over the past 65 days reflect the long-term demand of the Lebanese people for economic and institutional reform, better governance, and an end to endemic corruption. The United States also calls on the security forces to continue to ensure the safety of protesters while participating in peaceful demonstrations, and to exercise restraint by all. There is no place for violence in civil discourse. ” He emphasized that "the United States wants Lebanon and its people, all its people, to succeed, and we will continue to be a committed partner in this effort." Beirut - d