Hariri ‘still deciding’ whether to stand aside in Lebanon

Lebanon’s prime minister-designate is still deciding whether to withdraw his nomination, former prime minister Fouad Siniora has said.

There have been reports that Saad Hariri will step down amid a deepening political and economic crisis.

“We’re not at this stage yet,” Mr Siniora told The National on Thursday.

Mr Hariri is said to be losing hope of achieving a breakthrough in cabinet formation talks with President Michel Aoun nine months after his nomination.

Lebanon has been without a functioning government since Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned after the August 4 explosion at Beirut port that damaged much of the capital and killed more than 200 people.

Were Mr Hariri to withdraw, Parliament – currently held by a majority allied to Iran-backed Hezbollah – would vote to name his successor, Mr Siniora said.

“Assuming that the prime minister-designate decides to step down without suggesting another candidate, democratic norms should be respected,” said Mr Siniora, who leads Mr Hariri’s Future Movement parliamentary bloc.

Mr Hariri has been at loggerheads with the president over the composition of the government and its reform agenda.

He has accused Mr Aoun of blocking the formation of an administration of independent experts to introduce reforms that would bring in international financial support.

Mr Aoun says Mr Hariri is seeking to dictate the lineup, in breach of the constitution, a position that Mr Siniora strongly disputed.

“The president has the right to discuss the cabinet’s line-up with the prime minister-designate but it is the latter who bears responsibility towards Parliament,” Mr Siniora said.

The Lebanese crisis was discussed by the US and French ambassadors to Lebanon and Saudi officials on Thursday.

Rosana Bou Monsef, a political analyst, said the meetings were likely to prioritise direct aid to the impoverished population as well as financial support to the army and security forces in a bid to avoid further instability.