Former education minister Hassan Diab has been tasked by Lebanese president Michel Aoun with forming a new government after a long day of consultations with lawmakers.

Diab received 69 votes from the parliamentary blocs of Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, and the Free Patriotic Movement.

Diab accepted the position after over two months of political talks and after Saad Hariri withdrew his candidacy.

The university professor stressed that in light of the critical and sensitive situation, the rule of justice and law should prevail.

Diab declared that he will begin consultations to form a new cabinet with former Prime Ministers and members of parliament on Saturday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s bloc abstained from naming any figure. And although this seemed to many that it would not give the premier, who is a Sunni Muslim by decree, the necessary sectarian coverage, others considered that silence as a form of approval.

Hariri resigned in late October in the face of nationwide protests against Lebanon’s ruling elite. Since then, the country’s main political parties have been locked in talks to agree on a new government.

After over 60 days of street protests and political mayhem, former minister and university professor Hassan Diab is named by the majority of Lebanese lawmakers as Prime Minister. Observers, however, say the formation of a new cabinet does not seem an easy task and that Diab will have a bumpy road ahead.

Mariam Saleh

Fuente: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/12/19/614109/Hassan-Diab-Lebanon-Pri...