Bizri says he is not a candidate to become Lebanon's next prime minister

BEIRUT — MP Abdul Rahman Bizri (Independent/Saida) will not be a candidate for prime minister-designate, the MP told VDL radio station on Wednesday.

Here’s what we know:

    • Bizri’s comments come a day before parliamentary consultations, during which a prime minister-designate is elected by MPs, are scheduled to take place.

    • Bizri also told VDL news that “the name of the candidate whom I will name tomorrow in the parliamentary consultations has not been settled yet,” adding that “the next hours could reveal names other than [caretaker Prime Minister Najib] Mikati and [Nawaf] Salam,” who thus far appear to be the frontrunners for post.

    • On Tuesday, the Progressive Socialist Party announced that it is supporting the candidacy of Nawaf Salam as a prime minister-designate. Salam is a former Lebanese ambassador to the UN and a current International Court of Justice judge.