Hariri present cabinet of experts, throws ball into Aoun’s court

Hariri present cabinet of experts, throws ball into Aoun’s court

BEIRUT – Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Saad Hariri, announced Wednesday that he had submitted the list of his new government team of 18 specialised and non-partisan ministers to President Michel Aoun.

Analysts say his move throws the ball into the president's court after weeks of stalling.

At a press conference after his meeting with Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, Hariri expressed optimism that his government could see the light soon, saying, “God willing, the atmosphere is positive. The president promised me that he would study the formation, and then we will reconvene.”

“There is great hope for forming the government to reconstruct Beirut, and restoring confidence to the Lebanese through achieving the reforms agreed upon within the French initiative,” he added.

On the president's side, a statement by the Lebanese Presidency stated that President Aoun received from Hariri a list of 18 cabinet members, and that in return, the president handed Hariri “an integrated proposal on the upcoming government,” but according to the leaks, no names were included, in what seemed to be a move to mix up Hariri's cards again.

A Lebanese political source informed The Arab Weekly that it was very unlikely that Aoun would agree to the line-up proposed by the