First Day of Parliamentary Consultations Launched in Baabda, Blocs Name PM Candidates after Meeting President
First Stage of Parliamentary Consultations: Change and Reform, Development and Liberation Blocs Name Miqati, Future Bloc Names Hariri for PM
The first stage of the awaited parliamentary consultations was launched in the Baabda Palace Monday.
The consultations were held by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, where his first meeting was with Lebanese Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who on his part described the consultations as "good".
Suleiman's second meeting was with former PM Saad Hariri, who left the castle after the meeting without giving out any statement.
The following Presidential meeting was with head of Change and Reform Bloc General Michel Aoun, followed by a meeting with Najib Miqati, who affirmed that his candidacy for the premiership comes in the context of uniting the Lebanese people.
Michel Suleiman then met former PM Foad Saniora, who on his part named former PM Saad Hariri for premiership.
Development and Liberation Bloc Names Miqati
After meeting with President Suleiman, MP Anwar Khalil announced on behalf of the Development and Liberation Bloc headed by Speaker Berri, that his bloc named Najib Miqati for the premiership.
Future Bloc Names Hariri
The Future Bloc, after its meeting with President Suleiman, named former PM Saad Hariri for the premiership.
Change and Reform Bloc names Najib Miqati
On his part, head of Change and Reform Bloc Michel Aoun announced that his bloc names Najib Miqati for premiership.
Aoun called upon changing the former political mechanism followed, with a new legal political one.
Second stage in Parliamentary Consultations launched, Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, Jumblatt's Bloc name Miqati
The second stage of the parliamentary consultations to name a new PM kicked off, and after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Head of Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc MP Mohammad Raad, announced that his bloc, that includes 12 MPs, names Najib Miqati for premiership.
Jumblatt Announces Collapse of "Democratic Gathering", Says "National Struggle Front" Bloc names Miqati for Premiership
The "National Struggle Front" Bloc, which constitutes MPs Walid Jumblatt, Eli Aoun, Alaa Eddine Tro, Ghazi Aridi, Akram Shhayyeb, Nehmeh Tahmeh, Wael Abu Faour, announced after its meeting with President Suleiman, that it names Najib Miqati for Premiership.
After the meeting, Jumblatt said, "I was hoping to continue the path with yesterday's friends in the democratic gathering, but circumstances caused our separation".
In this context, Jumblatt said that is why there is no reason for having his bloc named Democratic Gathering, announcing it will return to its original name, "National Struggle Front" Bloc.
MPs Detached from Jumblatt's Democratic Gathering, Name Hariri for Premiership
On their part, the five MPs detached from Jumblatt's "Democratic Gathering" named caretaker PM Saad Hariri for Premiership.
The detached MPs are Marwan Hamadeh, Mohammad Hajjar, Henry Helo, Antoine Saad, Foad Al Saad.
Independent MPs Michel Murr, Nayla Twaini, Name Hariri for Premiership
On their part, independent MPs Michel Murr and Nayla Twaini names caretaker PM Saad Hariri for Premiership.
Zahle Bloc MPs Name Hariri for Premiership
After meeting with President Michel Suleiman, the Zahle Bloc, constituting of 6 MPs names PM Saad Hariri for new premiership.
After the meeting, MP Joseph Maalouf said that his bloc has come to commit to its constitutional duty.
The Bloc's members are Tony Abu Khater, Joseph Maalouf, Chant Janjenian, Oqab Saker, Assem Araji, and Eli Marouni.
Lebanese Forces Bloc Names Hariri for Premiership
On its part, the Lebanese Forces Bloc that constitutes five MPs, announced after meeting President Michel Suleiman, naming Caretaker PM for premiership.
After the meeting, MP George Odwan claimed that the parliamentary consultations are being subject to pressures.
The Phalange Bloc Names Hariri for Premiership
On another hand, the Phalange Parliamentary Bloc that constitutes four MPs, announced after meeting President Suleiman, that it names Caretaker PM Saad Hariri as its candidate for the new PM.
Mount Lebanon Unity Bloc Names Najib Miqati for Premiership
Furthermore, Talal Erslan's Mount Lebanon Unity Bloc named Najib Miqati for Premiership. After the meeting, MP Talal Erslan announced his bloc's decision, considering that the country is witnessing a new stage.
Erslan called upon all the Lebanese people to cooperate with Miqati, putting into consideration the welfare of Lebanon.
Free and United Lebanon Bloc Names Miqati for Premiership
On another hand, Free and United Lebanon Bloc named Najib Miqati for Premiership.
After meeting with President Suleiman, MP Suleiman Franjiyeh said that after Omar Karami refused to be a PM candidate, the opposition sought to nominate Najib Miqati for the new Prime Minister.
Franjiyeh confirmed that Miqati was and still is a consensus PM, unlike what the other team is claiming that he is a challenge PM.
In response to the March 14 coalition's stance that they will not take part in a government headed by a March 8 PM, Franjiyeh stressed that the opposition believed and still believes in the concept of coexistence.
