ANSD : Hariri: Cabinet delay because of desire to fulfill citizens’ hopes

SUN 5 - 5 - 2024

Date: Oct 25, 2018
Source: The Daily Star

Hariri: Cabinet delay because of desire to fulfill citizens’ hopes

_{Ghinwa Obeid & Joseph Haboush| The Daily Star}
BEIRUT: A desire to bring about a government that “fulfills the hopes” of Lebanese citizens is the reason for the monthslong delay in the process, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said Wednesday at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.

Hariri was speaking on a panel alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

“The government that we are forming now is a government that will be able to implement all the needs of CEDRE,” Hariri said, referring to the conference held in April in Paris to draw international support for Lebanon’s ailing economy. Over $11 billion were pledged in grants and soft loans. However, the money is contingent upon reforms that the Lebanese government is expected to undertake, but that cannot be implemented until the new Cabinet is formed.

Hariri admitted that government formation in Lebanon “usually takes time,” adding, “what matters to me is that the [upcoming] government has young people and women in it.”

“If we had females running the country, we would be in a better position,” he said.

Hariri stressed that the new Cabinet would be a reflection of the Parliament that was elected last May.

He said a breakthrough on the impasse, despite having now entered its sixth month, would materialize in the coming days, “God willing.” He reiterated that his Cabinet would be a national entente government, and said that “it’s not possible to govern the way we previously have.”

The premier-designate said that Lebanese citizens would need to “bite the bullet” and change, because “in Lebanon, we can’t continue like this,” referring to prolonged and widespread corruption in the country.

Each political party that will enter the new government “needs” to accept the necessary reforms, he said.

Hariri lauded Saudi Arabia for being one of the main facilitators of aid at CEDRE and for encouraging other countries to contribute. Saudi Arabia reinstated a $1 billion line of credit to Lebanon at CEDRE.

According to Hariri, each $1 billion invested in Lebanon would lead to the creation of between 50,000 and 75,000 jobs.

Lebanon’s poor economic situation has led the country’s GDP growth to dip as low as 1.5 percent, Hariri said. He also cited the “1.5 million Syrian refugees” in the country as an additional burden on the local economy.

“From here, I am optimistic that the next Lebanese government will ... restore the confidence of the citizen in his country,” which Hariri said has been divided since the assassination of his father, late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Touching on his thoughts for the future of the Middle East, Hariri said there has been palpable, contagious change spreading throughout the entire region. “When we focus on our country’s economy and ... joint Arab cooperation, we will be able to achieve growth.” Hariri had entered the conference with Prince Mohammad, alongside Bahrain’s crown prince and other regional leaders, including the ruler of Dubai, Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum.

Before the panel ended, the Saudi crown prince referenced Hariri’s resignation announcement made from Riyadh in November last year, which was later withdrawn.

Joking with Hariri and the crowd, Prince Mohammed said that Hariri is staying in Saudi Arabia for two days for the investment forum. “I hope rumors don’t emerge that he was kidnapped,” he said before he and Hariri shook hands.

Hariri arrived in Riyadh earlier in the day upon an official invitation to participate in the 2018 edition of the forum known as “Davos in the desert.”

The premier-designate met with King Salman in Riyadh before attending the summit.

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