‘No progress’ made on forming new Lebanese government

By Riya Shartouni

BEIRUT (AA) - Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said on Friday that no progress has been made in negotiations to form a new government.

Hariri’s remarks came during his meeting with the country’s President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace.

Quoting the prime minister-designate, Lebanon’s National News Agency said: "There is no progress on the government formation […] but I explained to the president the golden opportunity we have at hand."

"I am still holding on to my position to form a government of 18 ministers who are all experts,” Hariri added.

“During my visit to France, I sensed enthusiasm for the formation of the Lebanese government. The problem is to form a government made up of experts," he said.

On Wednesday, Hariri met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss the internal problems he faces in forming a government.

Last October, Lebanon’s president assigned Hariri, the leader of the Future Movement, to form the country’s new government, less than a year after Hariri’s last government resigned.

Hariri has served as premier twice, from 2009 to 2011 and from 2016 to this January.

Lebanon has not yet been able to form a new government, since Hassan Diab's government resigned six days after the catastrophic explosion in the port of the capital Beirut last August, killing over 200 people.

*Bassel Barakat in Ankara contributed to this report