In a country in the midst of economic collapse, the new Prime Minister designate of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, on Tuesday, July 27, promised to form a new government as soon as possible.

At the end of a first day of consultations with the main parliamentary blocs, Najib Mikati said he wanted to increase his meetings with the Head of State "in order to lead to the formation of the government as soon as possible". 

On Tuesday, the United States urged him to "quickly form a government" that is committed "to implementing essential reforms" to lift the country out of the doldrums, State Department spokeswoman Jalina said. Carry.

Najib Mikati assured to have detected "a consensus among all the (parliamentary) blocs on the need to accelerate the process of forming the new government (...) especially in the current difficult circumstances". 

"Elementary rights have now become the priority of citizens' demands, namely a decent life, access to electricity, fuel, medicine and bread," he noted, referring to shortages in all gender and hyperinflation. 

Hezbollah says ready to "seriously cooperate" with Najib Mikati

Najib Mikati met with the main parties, including the powerful armed Shiite movement Hezbollah and its ally the Free Patriotic Current (CPL) led by Michel Aoun, a Christian. 

Hezbollah MP, a major force in Lebanon, Mohammad Raad, said his party was ready to "seriously cooperate" with Najib Mikati.

The CPL has meanwhile affirmed that it would not participate in the next government but that it would not block its formation.

Already twice appointed Prime Minister in the past, Najib Mikati was appointed on Monday, a few days after Saad Hariri's challenge.

Since the end of August 2020, he is the third Prime Minister appointed to form a government of "mission" demanded abroad, in particular by France which proposed, last year, a plan of economic reforms and the fight against corruption - in in return for the release of crucial financial assistance.

With a fortune estimated at $ 2.7 billion according to Forbes magazine, Najib Mikati, a 65-year-old businessman, is seen by many in Lebanon as one of the symbols of a power accused of corruption and nepotism, and is suspected of illicit enrichment.

In 2019, Najib Mikati was the subject of a Lebanese investigation for "illicit enrichment".

But this was not followed up.

“How could I trust a thief who stole from me and stole the future of my children?” Mohamad Dib, a 57-year-old resident of Beirut, said on Monday, referring to Najib Mikati.

"As long as this caste is in power, nothing will change."

A large part of the population accuses the political class, unchanged for decades, of corruption, incompetence and inertia.

Lebanon mired in an endless political and economic crisis

Lebanon has been managed for nearly a year by the government of Hassan Diab, in charge of current affairs after having resigned in the wake of the gigantic explosion at the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. This disaster, which made more than 200 victims, fueled the street anger against the ruling class.

The institutional vacuum has so far hampered any possible financial bailout for the country which defaulted on its debt in March 2020. The World Bank estimates that the country is now facing one of the most serious crises in the world since 1850.

Despite the urgency to launch reforms to get out of this crisis, the leaders persisted in their political quarrels which have so far prevented the establishment of a ministerial team.

They are accused of abandoning the population to its difficulties: soaring prices, historic plummet of the national currency, unprecedented impoverishment, unprecedented banking restrictions and serious shortages of drugs, fuel, water and electricity.

The Electricity of Lebanon, symbol of the failure of public services, can today only provide a few hours of electricity per day and struggles to obtain fuel for lack of money.  

Its reform is one of the pressing demands of the international community as part of a vast aid program.

If he succeeds where his two predecessors failed, Najib Mikati will have to lead the country towards the legislative elections scheduled in principle in 2022.

With AFP

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