Hariri to Expand Consultations to Include Trade Unions, Civil Society Representatives
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri concludes Tuesday official parliamentary consultations to form a new government, only to kick off a new round of two-day talks that would include trade unions and civil society representatives for the first time.
Hariri”s talks on Wednesday and Thursday would include, in addition to meetings with a number of parliamentary blocs from both the majority and the Opposition, representatives of trade unions, economic bodies, NGOs as well as the civil society.
An-Nahar daily said broadening the talks is indication of further delay in a Cabinet lineup.
Hariri will launch consultations on Wednesday in a meeting with Liberation and Development bloc leader MP Anwar al-Khalil to be followed by meetings with the Lebanese Forces and Phalange party blocs.
On Thursday, Hariri will meet head of the Change and Reform bloc Michel Aoun.
Al-Liwaa newspaper said talks on Wednesday and Thursday will not include Hizbullah”s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc.
Parliamentary sources believed that the second round of talks could shape the picture of the new government.
Meanwhile, Hariri on Tuesday will end his official parliamentary consultations after separate meetings with MPs Michel Faraoun, Dory Chamoun, Robert Fadel and Nayla Tueni.