Small Progress Reforming Lebanese Government after Beirut Explosion

BEIRUT, KOMPAS.com – Following the deadly Beirut explosion in August, the formation of a new Lebanese government has yet to take shape.

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib urged all parties to cooperate in forming a new government and for everyone to work to make a French initiative successful.

The twin blasts spurred Lebanon closer to an economic crisis that marks the worst threat to its stability since the 1975-90 civil war.

Read also: France Urges Lebanon to Reform Following Deadly Beirut Explosion

But French efforts to get its fractious leaders to agree a new government to start fixing the problems have yet to bear fruit.

The cabinet formation process has hit a logjam over the demand of Lebanon's two dominant Shi'ite parties, the Iran-backed Hezbollah and its ally the Amal Movement, to name Shi'ite ministers in the cabinet including the Finance Minister.

"Lebanon doesn't have the luxury of wasting time amid the unprecedented crises that it is going through," said Adib, a Sunni Muslim who is backed by former Lebanese prime ministers including Saad al-Hariri.

Any additional delay would exacerbate the crises, he said.

Read also: EU Demands “Credible” Govt before More Aid for Beirut Explosion Released

All parties should cooperate for the formation of a government of specialists "capable of halting the collapse and starting work to get the country out the crises", he said.

Adib said he would spare no effort "to achieve this goal in cooperation with the president of the republic".

(Writer: Tom Perry | Editors: Alex Richardson, Raissa Kasolowsky)

Source: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-lebanon-crisis-government/lebanese-pm-urges-efforts-to-make-french-initiative-succeed-idUKKCN26C0J4