Lebanese political forces ‘optimistic’ about next gov’t

By Charbel Abboud

BEIRUT (AA) - Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on Thursday presented a formula for drawing up the country’s next government to President Michel Aoun.

According to an informed source who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, the proposed formula -- which, he said, enjoyed the support of several political parties -- represented “the only viable means” of agreeing on a new cabinet lineup.

The source went on to describe the novel formula, details of which have not been disclosed, as a source of “optimism” among Lebanon’s leading political parties.

In a statement issued following his meeting with Aoun, Hariri said that several “points of contention” related to the incoming government “have been solved”.

After parliamentary polls were held in May, Aoun tasked Hariri -- Lebanon’s acting prime minister -- with drawing up the country’s next government.

Since then, Lebanon’s main political parties and forces have remained in consultations in hopes of reaching agreement over the composition of the country’s incoming cabinet.