Lebanon: Protesters Pressure Political Parties to Speed up Cabinet Formation

Arab World

November 2nd, 7:06am

Beirut - Nazeer Rida

A protester carries a placard that reads in Arabic 'No trust' during a protest on the highway leading to the Presidential palace in Baabda, east Beirut, Lebanon, 01 November 2019. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Sporadic protests and ongoing street tension across Lebanon have put additional pressure on political parties to initiate contacts aimed at forming a “salvation government” capable of listening to the people’s demands following the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that most parties were pushing for the formation of a smaller cabinet but have not yet agreed on the Sunni figure who will head it. The sources said all the parties agree that the next cabinet should be different from the one headed by Hariri, who resigned 13 days after mass protests gripped the country. After clinching their first victory in bringing the government down, protesters are now asking for swift measures to form the new cabinet, resorting to road closures despite the Lebanese army’s repeated attempts to open major highways. Clashes with the army in Sidon left one person injured when protesters blocked the road near the southern city’s central bank branch. In Beirut, some protesters sat on the ground in Mar Elias street, while others stormed the headquarters of the Association of Banks in Lebanon in the city center to protest new banking policies. A group of protesters also organized a demonstration near the Presidential Palace in Baabda, giving political parties a two-week deadline to form a new government. The ongoing protests pushed several parties to announce their vision for the next cabinet. Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea called for a “salvation government,” formed of independents and experts. Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said that the new government should be formed as soon as possible and should listen to the demands of the people. In his televised speech, Nasrallah stressed that the cabinet should also work to regain the people's confidence and be transparent.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1972641/lebanon-protesters-pressure-political-parties-speed-cabinet-formation