The new Lebanese Prime Minister, the Sunni Hassan Diab, was appointed Thursday by President Michel Aoun after several weeks of negotiations. But it is already disputed by the Sunni populations who denounce the appointment of a head of government supported by the Shiite movement Hezbollah.

On Saturday December 21, roads were blocked in the Akkar region and in Tripoli, in the north of the country, the day after a day marked by scuffles in Beirut. Hassan Diab, former Minister of Education, little known to the general public, still initiated parliamentary consultations with a view to the formation of a new government. The Prime Minister met with the President of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, who insisted on the need to form a government representative of all the parliamentary blocs as well as of the protest movement.

An unprecedented popular movement prompted former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his government to resign on October 29. The demonstrators have been calling for the formation of a cabinet of technocrats and independents.

But some parties have already expressed their reluctance, even their refusal, to participate in the next cabinet. On Saturday, the Druze leader Walid Joumblatt's bloc announced the boycott of the consultations and announced that it would not participate in the government.

A chance to form an exceptional government

For his part, Saad Hariri has not publicly supported his successor, while the main Sunni parliamentary bloc he presides "will not participate in the next government," a source close to the party told AFP on Friday. .

The Lebanese Forces (FL), a Christian party whose ministers were the first to resign after the start of the protest movement, have also repeatedly announced their refusal to join a "political" government.

On Friday, Hassan Diab called on the protesters to "give him a chance" to form an "exceptional government" and promised to meet with "various representatives" of the protest movement on Sunday. But the support provided by Hezbollah and its allies has fueled the anger of part of the street, including Sunnis, who see it as a marginalization of their community in this multi-faith country.

For months, Lebanon has been plagued by one of its worst socio-economic and financial crises since the end of the civil war (1975-1990). The international community has conditioned any new financial aid on the formation of a reformist cabinet.

With AFP

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