Aoun sets PM consultations for Monday

President Joseph Aoun has announced that binding parliamentary consultations to select a new prime minister will take place on Monday. According to a statement from the Presidency, Aoun will meet with parliamentary blocs and independent MPs from 8:00 a.m. until around 5:30 p.m.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has expressed his willingness to lead the next government, with reports indicating he will remain in his position until the upcoming parliamentary elections. Meanwhile, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has proposed MP Ashraf Rifi or MP Fouad Makhzoumi as potential candidates for the role.

On Thursday, Lebanon’s parliament elected Aoun as president, ending a more than two-year presidential vacancy. The vote follows a fragile ceasefire that concluded a 14-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The new president is expected to play a crucial role in securing international aid for Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts.

Aoun, who is not related to former President Michel Aoun, is widely regarded as the favored candidate of the United States and Saudi Arabia, both of which are key to Lebanon’s plans for recovery and rebuilding. The next government will face significant challenges, including implementing the ceasefire agreement, overseeing reconstruction, and addressing the country’s deep economic and financial crisis.

Lebanon is now in its sixth year of an economic downturn that has severely devalued its currency and eroded the savings of its citizens. The state electricity company remains underfunded, providing only a few hours of power daily. In 2022, Lebanon reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package, but progress on the required reforms to finalize the deal has been minimal.