Hariri to Make “Reasonable" Cabinet Offer Soon
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Sunday that he will make a "reasonable offer" within the coming days to form a national unity government with "those who need each other and without allowing any side to monopolize decision-making."
"I will take several steps within the coming few days to announce a Cabinet lineup through a reasonable proposal," Hariri told an iftar in Qoreitem.
"Those who lost elections does not mean they are out of the regime," Hariri stressed at the dinner in honor of families of the western Bekaa Valley and Rashaya.
"But at a certain point, you have to put the country”s interest above everything else. We have to make a choice and present our outlook on how a national unity government should be," Hariri went on to say. "And this is not to challenge anyone."
"We have extended our hand to them so that they will be with us in building the state and face all the challenges."
"All I am asking for is logic. No one tells me that he is demanding his rights. These are not rights of the politicians, but for the citizens we represent. There is no right for anyone in this state except for the Lebanese citizen," Hariri stressed.
Meanwhile, Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad stressed that the Opposition will "only" take part in a unity government.
Following dinner, Hariri met respectively with Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel and Druze chief Walid Jumblat. And shortly before midnight, the premier-designate received Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.
Earlier Sunday, he discussed developments of a Cabinet makeup with Telecoms Minister Jebran Bassil at Center House in downtown Beirut.
Hariri also met overnight Saturday with Hizbullah official Hajj Hussein Khalil.