Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced Thursday (October 8th) that he is a candidate to lead a new government, whose mission will be to stem the country's economic collapse after the huge explosion that destroyed the port of Beirut.
French President Emmanuel Macron last month called on the Lebanese political class to quickly put in place a new government, the first step necessary to enable an end to the crisis, but so far the efforts undertaken have not succeeded.
"I am clearly a candidate"
for the formation of a new government, Saad Hariri said in an interview with Lebanese television station MTV,
"I will not close the door on the only hope that remains for Lebanon to settle. straighten ”
.
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The country is facing its worst economic crisis in decades and has yet to recover from the awe-inspiring explosion that devastated the port of Beirut on August 4, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 people, thousands of injured and enormous damage in the capital.
President Michel Aoun is due to consult Parliament within a week before appointing the new head of government.
Saad Hariri said he was ready to start discussions with the various political parties as early as next week,
"if all are still in agreement on the program"
discussed with Emmanuel Macron.
The former Prime Minister was pushed to resign last fall by major demonstrations calling for a deep renewal of the national political class, accused of being incompetent and corrupt.
The next government, led by Hassan Diab, resigned after the explosion.
His successor, Mustapha Adib, also resigned last month, just weeks after his appointment, faced with blockages from the two main Shiite parties, Hezbollah and Amal, in his attempts to form a new government.
Read also: Lebanon: Emmanuel Macron's pas de deux with Hezbollah
In a multi-faith Lebanon with a delicate political balance, the formation of a new government can take several months of negotiations.
But according to Saad Hariri, the entire political class has come to an agreement with Emmanuel Macron, who has visited Beirut twice since the explosion, in order to put aside their differences for six months and save the country from 'a disaster.
"Anyone can create problems when forming a government, but if the parties really want to stop the collapse and rebuild Beirut, they must follow the French initiative,"
said Saad Hariri.
