Lebanese President Michel Aoun began parliamentary consultations on Monday, August 31 to appoint a new Prime Minister, who should be Ambassador to Germany Moustapha Adib.

The French president, who is due to pay a second visit to Lebanon on Monday since the deadly double explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, urges Lebanese leaders to form a "mission government" to pull the country out of the economic and political crisis.

>> To read: In Lebanon, President Michel Aoun calls for the proclamation of a "secular state"

Moustapha Adib, a 48-year-old university professor who had been Lebanon's ambassador to Germany since 2013, was chosen Sunday evening by the heavyweights of the Sunni community, from which the head of government must come. The presidency goes to a Maronite Christian and the presidency of Parliament to a Shiite Muslim.

It should obtain the approval of the main parliamentary blocs, notably those of the presidential party, the Free Patriotic Current, and its two Shiite allies, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and the Amal movement.

But this relatively unknown personality, close to the former Prime Minister and billionaire Najib Mikati, should be rejected by the popular protest movement which demands the departure of the political class and the end of a confessional system.

Emmanuel Macron criticizes the confessional system

The binding parliamentary consultations began at 9 a.m. local (6 a.m. GMT) and will see parliamentary blocs and independent MPs pass by, who will announce their choice in turn. The candidate with the most votes is expected to be nominated following these consultations, which will end at 10:15 a.m. GMT.

Head of government Hassan Diab resigned on August 10, after the explosion that left at least 188 dead and devastated entire neighborhoods of Beirut. The tragedy, due to the presence of an enormous quantity of ammonium nitrate at the port of Beirut in the eyes of those responsible, fueled the anger of the population.

>> To read: Emmanuel Macron back in Lebanon to increase the pressure on his leaders

Western officials who have followed one another in Beirut have joined the Lebanese's calls for profound political change after this disaster for which the political class, accused of negligence and corruption, is held responsible.

Emmanuel Macron, expected Monday evening in Beirut, had mentioned Friday the "constraints of a confessional system" which led "to a situation where there is hardly any renewal (political) and where there is almost an impossibility of carry out reforms ".

On Sunday evening, President Aoun acknowledged in a speech on the occasion of the centenary of Lebanon, celebrated on Tuesday, the need to change the political system and called for the proclamation of a "secular state".

With AFP

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