Hariri Steps Down as PM-designate
Saad Hariri announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as Premier-designate after the opposition rejected the cabinet lineup he proposed earlier this week.
"Given that my commitment to forming a government of national unity has run up against difficulties that everyone now knows about, I announce that I have informed the president of the republic that I have abandoned trying to form a government," he told journalists following talks with President Michel Suleiman in Beiteddine.
"I hope that this decision will be in the interests of Lebanon and will permit a relaunch of dialogue," Hariri said.
He added that the conditions set by the opposition sought to undermine the entire election.
The announcement comes after 73 days of fruitless efforts to form a government following the June 7 elections.
Suleiman will have to start consultations from scratch with lawmakers on naming a new premier.
"When it comes to principles I am very stubborn and will never ignore political issues related to Lebanon”s independence and stability," Hariri told an Iftar in Qoreitem on Wednesday.
He revealed that he would take "decisive steps in the coming two or three days that are in the best interest of the country."
The daily An-Nahar said Thursday that the major obstacle preventing a cabinet deal is the telecommunications ministry issue and the Free Patriotic Movement”s insistence on the reappointment of Jebran Bassil in the same post.
It said that despite other knots facing government formation, including the opposition”s keenness to name its ministers, the telecoms portfolio remained the major problem.
Hariri on Monday presented a cabinet lineup for President Michel Suleiman”s approval. The proposal, however, was quickly rejected by the opposition.
The premier-designate, nevertheless, said he was still open to negotiations with the opposition concerning the cabinet makeup.
Hariri reiterated that any government proposal "should be in proportion to the outcome of the June 7 parliamentary elections."
Following the Iftar banquet, Hariri met with Hizbullah official Hussein Khalil and AMAL movement representative Ali Hassan Khalil.
An-Nahar on Thursday said Bassil was "excluded" from the meeting in Qoreitem which lasted well into the early morning hours.
As-Safir newspaper, however, said Hariri”s advisor, Nader Hariri, conveyed to Bassil an invitation on behalf of the premier-designate to join the meeting in Qoreitem.
It said that following consultations with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, it was decided that Bassil "apologizes" for not attending the Hariri-Khalils meeting.
Al-Akhbar newspaper, for its part, said talks between Hariri and the two Khalils failed to produce a deal.
"Talks ended with no understanding on any point. They did not even agree on a new meeting date," a well-informed source said.