Hariri gets new term as PM

beirut — Lebanon’s president formally asked caretaker premier Saad Hariri on Thursday to form a new Cabinet after the vast majority of legislators named him as their choice for the position of prime minister.

After a day of consultations between President Michel Aoun and 128 legislators, 111 named Hariri as their choice to form a new Cabinet while the rest, including Hezbollah’s bloc and some of its allies, did not give a name. —

beirut — Lebanese lawmakers designated Prime Minister Saad Hariri for a third term in office on Thursday, less than three weeks after elections that saw his movement lose ground in parliament.

“The head of state summoned prime minister Saad Hariri and tasked him with forming a government,” said a statement posted on social media by the office of President Michel Aoun.

The presidency made the announcement after Hariri, 48, was endorsed by a vast majority of members of parliament after only a few hours of consultations.

Hariri said in a statement that he would seek to form a new government as quickly as possible in order to implement some of the reforms pledged earlier this year to secure key foreign aid.

“I thank all my fellow deputies who entrusted me with forming a

I thank all my fellow deputies who entrusted me with forming a new government, hoping we will do so as soon as possible Saad Hariri, PM-designate

new government, hoping we will do so as soon as possible for the benefit of Lebanon and the Lebanese,” he said.

Speaking to reporters before leaving the presidential palace, he reaffirmed his policy of “disassociation”, a term used to describe efforts to keep Lebanon out of the region’s conflicts.

“The new government will need to consolidate its policy of disassociation and continue efforts to face the refugee crisis,” he said.