The Grand Serail in Beirut, Feb. 13, 2024. (Credit: L'Orient Today)
Who will lead the first government of President Joseph Aoun's mandate? On the eve of the binding parliamentary consultations set to begin on Monday at the Baabda Palace, two politicians, former Interior Minister Ashraf Rifi and Beirut MP Ibrahim Mneimneh, have already announced their candidacies. Meanwhile, a potential reappointment of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail with the support of a Shiite push is not excluded. The opposition announced on Saturday its support for Beirut MP Fouad Makhzoumi, a stance that had already been circulating in the press for several days.
"After a deep discussion and in view of the necessity to open a new chapter at the presidency of the government, the opposition MPs have decided to support the candidacy of MP Fouad Makhzoumi within the framework of the binding parliamentary consultations," the opposition announced in a statement. According to reports, Makhzoumi is expected to officially announce his candidacy shortly.
Already on Friday, Rifi officially announced his candidacy during a televised interview on al-Jadeed.
"I am a candidate for the premiership. Mikati is part of the old system decried by everyone," he said. He also explained that forming a government would be an "obstacle" that the new president would have to face.
Makhzoumi and Rifi, both members of the Renewal Bloc, reportedly have the approval of several anti-Hezbollah parties, as well as some Western embassies where the name of Ibrahim Mneimneh, a Beirut MP from the 2019 protest movement, is also being mentioned.
Salam, Makhzoumi and Mikati
Mneimneh officially announced his candidacy on Saturday evening in a long statement published on X.
"After consulting with several colleagues and having consulted my popular base, I am ready to assume the responsibilities of prime minister, based on our commitments to implement our political project," he wrote.
In an interview with LBCI on Sunday morning, Mneimneh also said he is open to a candidacy by the President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Nawaf Salam, if adopted by the majority.
"We had already proposed the name of Nawaf Salam and continue to do so. If there is agreement around this name, we will certainly consider it," he said.
According to reporting from LBCI, Salam, himself, said on Saturday evening "to several MPs, that he is ready to assume the functions of head of government if the parliamentary blocs support [his] candidacy."
Beirut MP Paula Yaacoubian told MTV that "Najib Mikati is not the right person [to occupy the post of prime minister] and that a large part [of the MPs] will propose the candidacies of Nawaf Salam or Ibrahim Mneimneh."
"We must support the new mandate," she said, while arguing that the Free Party Movement (FPM) could support Salam.
Former FPM MPs Ibrahim Kanaan, Elias Bou Saab, Alain Aoun and Simon Abi Ramia were due to meet on Sunday to discuss which candidate they intend to support, according to MTV.
"The competition today is between Makhzoumi and Mikati. All the other names mentioned serve to strengthen Mikati's position," Koura MP Adib Abdel Massih told the Lebanon Debate news website.
Hezbollah supports Mikati
Heading the government since the end of Michel Aoun's mandate (October 2022), Mikati, who enjoys the support of the Hezbollah-Amal tandem for a potential reappointment, expressed his readiness on Thursday to continue this mission under Joseph Aoun, with whom he maintains a "very good relationship."
"I need rest. But I am ready to serve Lebanon and the Lebanese," he stated.
The Amal Movement's MP Qassem Hashem stated on Sunday that he supports Mikati's candidacy. This support "is part of the points raised by President Joseph Aoun" in his inauguration speech, he clarified during an interview with LBCI.
"We must be realistic ... and take into account the Lebanese components," he added.
The Democratic Gathering (presided over by MP Taymour Joumblatt) meets Sunday afternoon to decide on its candidate for the premiership.