Lebanon .. Aoun calls for vigilance and anticipation for the formation of the Diab government after the New Year

Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed his hope that the situation in the country will improve after the formation of the new government. This came during a meeting with the leaders of the security services yesterday, Friday, who called on them to be vigilant and cautious to address any security imbalance and work to combat corruption. Meanwhile, the Information Office of the Lebanese Presidency reported that the Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab briefed President Aoun on the latest developments related to the formation of the government, without Diab making any statement after the meeting.

Aoun pointed out that "the country is passing through very difficult conditions and a crisis unprecedented in its history, but we hope with the new government that the situation will begin to improve gradually and overcome the crisis, and Lebanon will return to its prosperity."

He added that "the economic and financial crisis that we are living in is 30 years old and is not a result of the present. It started since the economy was transformed into an economy of tourism and services, and debts accumulated without the state paying it, so today we live in a period of austerity at the individual level and at the level of the state and its institutions."

For his part, the commander of the Lebanese army, General Joseph Aoun, said that the army will continue to assume its responsibilities, and made it clear that for "70 days, our soldiers are ready to keep pace with the popular movement and constitutional benefits ... 70 days and the army seeks to ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators, and freedom of movement and the preservation of property has been provided Public and private, supported by Your Excellency and your recommendations and your commitment to respect the constitution and law and freedom of expression. "

Politicians and partisans in Lebanon believe that the formation of the new government headed by Hassan Diab will be the key to salvation from the crisis in the country, even if there are reservations on their part.

Stay tuned for the new government
Earlier Friday, a source close to the Lebanese president suggested that the new government be announced after the New Year.

The source told Anadolu Agency that the list of names of ministers is not ready until now. Yesterday, local media reported that the Sunni community was reluctant to participate in the Diab government after Major General Ibrahim Basbous apologized for offering to take over the Interior Ministry.

Since October 17, Lebanon has witnessed popular protests following a government decision to impose a tax on the implementation of WhatsApp. Soon, the demonstrations spread to all Lebanese regions and forced the Saad Hariri government to resign on the 29th of the same month.

The protesters insist on forming a government of technocrats capable of dealing with the political and economic situations, in a country that suffers the worst economic crisis since the civil war between 1975 and 1990.

Late last week, Hassan Diab, in binding parliamentary consultations, won the support of 69 deputies out of 128. Although he did not belong to a party or a political force, he obtained the support of the Hezbollah bloc and its allied forces, which made protesters regard him as political and demonstrated against his mandate.

On the level of political forces, Lebanese parliamentary blocs have announced over the past days their intention not to participate in the next government headed by Diab, while others have expressed their willingness to cooperate with it.

With more than a week since Diab’s mandate, a period during which the protests did not subside, Representative Muhammad Nasrallah, a member of the Development and Investigation Bloc (Parliament’s Speaker Nabih Berri) said that the bloc would support the chief in charge of all available capabilities.

For his part, the head of the Lebanese Forces media apparatus, Charles Jabbour, said that his bloc would not obstruct the course of the government if it was confirmed that it was indeed composed of independents.

The powerful Republican faction of the Forces Party led by Samir Geagea and the Democratic Gathering Party led by MP Walid Jumblatt declined to participate in the government. The Hariri-led Parliamentary Bloc also informed Prime Minister-designate Diab last Saturday that it would not participate in the government, but it would also not impede its formation.