Binding consultations to name new PM kick off at Baabda Palace

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Binding parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister in Lebanon in order to a new government kicked off on Thursday morning at the Baabda Presidential Palace.

Aoun first met with former Prime Minister Najib Mikati who named former Prime Minister Saad Hariri as his candidate for the premiership.

Then Aoun met with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri who left without making a statement.

Former Prime Minister Tammam Salam also named Hariri for the premiership, hoping that everyone would facilitate Hariri’s mission.

As for Lebanon's Deputy Parliament Speaker Elie Ferzli, he named Hariri for the premiership.

Meanwhile, the Future Movement bloc named Hariri to be Lebanon’s next PM.

This as the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc did not name any candidate for the post.

“We have not named anyone to lead the government, maybe that would contribute to maintaining a positive climate that broadens the required understanding,” MP Mohammed Raad said.

Then Aoun met with members of the Strong republic bloc who did not name any candidate to lead the new government.

Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan said: "We did not name any candidate for the post because we do not want our choice to be misinterpreted. We believe the current candidate has a majority of the component he represents."

The Lebanese National bloc of the Marada Movement, the Democratic Gathering bloc of the Progressive Socialist Party and the Independent Center bloc led by MP Jean Obeid named Hariri as their candidate.

Independent MPs Michel Daher, Eddie Demerjian, Nouhad Mashnouq, and Jihad el-Samad voted in favor of Hariri.

MP Jean Talouzian of the Strong Republic bloc attended the consultations individually and voted in favor of the ex-PM.

Independent lawmakers Oussama Saad, Fouad Makhzoumi, Chamel Roukouz and Jamil el-Sayyed did not name a candidate.

The Strong Lebanon bloc of the Free Patriotic Movement headed by MP Gebran Bassil did not name any candidate for the premiership.

Bassil said: "We, as a parliamentary bloc, participated constitutionally in the consultations in response to the President's call. The Free Patriotic Movement's position is known; we favor a reform government of specialists, be it premier or ministers, in harmony with the French initiative's general atmosphere."

"This time in the consultations, the circumstances have led to one candidate who is not a specialist, but rather a political figure par excellence, so we decided not to name anyone. Our stance is purely political and not personal, and it stems from adopting one criteria in forming any government," he stressed.

The Mountain Guarantee bloc "decided not to back Hariri's nomination for the post."

The Armenian Deputies bloc and the Development and Liberation bloc of Amal party led by Speaker Nabih Berri said they back Hariri's designation to form the new government.