Lebanon's Hariri endorses Najib Mikati to form new gov’t

By Stephanie Rady

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AA) – The leader of Lebanon’s Future Movement, Saad Hariri, on Monday endorsed former Prime Minister Najib Mikati to form a new government in the crisis-hit country.

This came in statements made by Hariri following his meeting with President Michel Aoun to nominate a new prime minister.

"The country today has an opportunity and the dollar is declining and I named Mikati,” Hariri, a former prime minister, said. "We hope that he will be assigned and a government will be formed as soon as possible.”

Aoun is set to conduct parliamentary consultations later on Monday to assign a new prime minister.

Mikati previously headed the government in Lebanon twice in 2005 and 2011. He is known to have come to politics from the business sector.

Hariri had stepped down earlier this month after failing to reach an agreement with Aoun on forming a new government.

Lebanon has been unable to come up with a new administration since the resignation of Hassan Diab's cabinet on Aug. 10, 2020, six days after the massive blast that hit Port of Beirut.

The Arab country is facing a severe economic crisis, with the local currency losing nearly all its value against the US dollar. Streets across the country are witnessing massive protests and rallies.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara