Agence France Presse
June 27 2009
Premier-Designate Hariri Vows to Form ‘Homogeneous’ Cabinet
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri vowed on Saturday to form a
homogeneous and consensus government that is able to function away
from obstruction.
We "will safeguard the constitution, (state) institutions,
sovereignty, independence and the project of the building of the
Lebanese state," Hariri told reporters at Baabda palace after
President Michel Suleiman designated him Lebanon’s premier and tasked
him with forming a new cabinet.
He vowed to form a "homogeneous" and "consensus" government that is
able to remain united and "make achievements away from obstruction" in
cooperation with the president.
Hariri also promised to keep strife and "foreign and economic" dangers
away from Lebanon.
Suleiman on Saturday designated Hariri Lebanon’s premier after the
majority of parliamentarians nominated the politician to the post.
"According to the constitution and after the president consulted with
the speaker of parliament and parliamentarians, he (Suleiman) summoned
Saad Hariri and tasked him with forming a new government," a
presidential statement said.
The decree issued by Suleiman came after Hariri received 86 votes of
approval by lawmakers following two days of consultations. Hariri got
the approval of 71 MPs from his own majority alliance, plus Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri and his bloc of 12 legislators and two Armenian
MPs.
This would be Hariri’s first designation to the premiership following
the June 7 legislative elections in which the March 14 coalition won
71 out of the 128 seats in parliament.
The 39-year-old is to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Fouad Saniora, a
member of Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal movement.
>From Baabda palace, Hariri headed to downtown Beirut and prayed at
his father’s graveside along with Saniora and other members of his
bloc.
Hariri now faces the difficult task of negotiating with other
political factions to form a government. The process can take days or
even weeks.
On Sunday, he will visit former prime ministers and kick off
consultations with parliamentary blocs on cabinet formation on Monday
As news broke up about his nomination, celebratory gunfire shook
Beirut and its suburbs. However, Hariri urged citizens in a statement
not to fire in the air.
Around 12 people were injured from celebratory gunfire on Thursday,
when parliament reelected Berri.
Beirut, 27 Jun 09, 14:47