In a Lebanon in crisis, Saad Hariri presents a government to President Aoun

Published on : 07/14/2021 – 9:10 PM

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri announced on Wednesday July 14 that he had presented President Michel Aoun with a list of 24 ministers likely to form a government. He hopes to get a response on Thursday to end a political stalemate that has lasted more than nine months.

“This is the moment of truth,” said Saad Hariri, who previously served as head of the Lebanese government.

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Lebanon has been deprived of a government since the last management team finally left office a few weeks after the explosion of August 4, 2020, a tragedy that killed hundreds of people and devastated Beirut, the capital.

“Save the country”

This political stalemate has amplified the financial crisis the country is going through – the worst depression in modern history, according to the World Bank.

“In my opinion, this government is capable of saving the country and avoiding collapse,” said Saad Hariri, appointed last October to form a government but who has experienced the greatest difficulties in forming a cabinet of national unity. faced with the scale of the political, economic and social crisis.

>> To read: Political stalemate: the EU is preparing sanctions against Lebanese leaders

France has been demanding for months the formation of a new government and the adoption of reforms, measures which condition the release of billions of dollars of aid. In addition, according to information obtained by France 24, the donors’ conference initially scheduled for July 20 has been postponed to August 4.

With Reuters