Today, political consultations began between the Lebanese party forces to form a new government, while the representatives of the popular movement took the initiative to call for demonstrations to reject any settlement that does not respond to the aspirations of the protesters who have been demonstrating daily since mid-October last.
It is expected that the official positions of a number of parties, particularly the Future and Free Patriotic Movement, will crystallize in the coming hours regarding the nomination of businessman Samir al-Khatib to head the government.
And the contacts between the political forces continue before the launching of the binding parliamentary consultations called by President Michel Aoun to name a new head of government.
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri told Al-Gomhoria newspaper that he would present the name of Al-Khatib to the parliament.
"Basically, I would have named President Saad Hariri or the person he supports to form the government. Since he supports Engineer Samir al-Khatib, I will call my engineer Samir al-Khatib," he added.
On the other hand, activists of the popular movement described the government settlement that the parties are working on as not expressing the aspirations of the street, and that it is an attempt to reproduce the previous government in a new way.
Activists called for protest in front of the parliament building to confirm the rejection of the upcoming government formation.
The Lebanese Media Agency reported that a number of cars gathered on the Ring Bridge to launch in a procession roaming the streets of Beirut to stress that parliamentary consultations should be for the people and that an independent government is required from outside the ruling system.
Will of the people
The protesters called on the parliamentarians to "submit to the will of the people, respect their sacrifices, and name an independent person who enjoys their confidence and satisfaction, and most importantly, carry a plan to avoid them paying the price of the crisis."
On Monday, the Presidency of the Republic of Lebanon set a date for binding parliamentary consultations to nominate the president in charge of forming a new government.
According to reports, the name of engineer Samir al-Khatib remains the most likely to take over, but the doors remain open to all possibilities.
It is noteworthy that the Lebanese protests were launched in mid-last October to demand the improvement of services, the fight against corruption and the end and departure of the ruling political elite.
Two weeks later, Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his resignation in response to the will of the protesters, but political forces have not yet formed an alternative government.