Thank you for following our live coverage of the first day of non-binding parliamentary consultations, in preparation for the formation of the new government. We'll be back tomorrow morning.
🔴 The first day of non-binding parliamentary consultations on the formation of a new Parliament has come to a close, the official National News Agency (ANI) reported. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made no statement and will resume his consultations tomorrow.
MPs from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement maintained their boycott and did not attend the consultations. MP Neemat Frem's bloc was due to meet Salam before them, but his name is not on the list of consulted blocs.
MP Michel Moawad, speaking on behalf of the Renewal bloc (with MPs Michel Moawad, Achraf Rifi and Fouad Makhzoumi) says that his parliamentary bloc hopes to see as many political parties as possible participate in the new government.
“This government must be founded on solid foundations and principles, with the mission of turning the page and ushering in a new era," he said. "Given that its mission is both political and technical, we hope that the government will include as many political blocs as possible. If everyone participates, it will be even better."
We are in a founding phase,” he continued. To successfully turn the page, it was necessary to reconstitute power, which began with the election of President Joseph Aoun and the appointment of Nawaf Salam.”
The Renewal Bloc will meet with Salam next, followed by MPs from Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, who boycotted the consultations during which he was appointed.
"We must adapt to this new situation and follow this period with great open-mindedness," said MP Faisal Karameh, on behalf of the independent bloc of "national understanding," made up of five MPs, after their meeting with Nawaf Salam.
"The most important thing is not to isolate anyone. What protects us is the Lebanese state and the Constitution," he added.
The MPs of Tachnag, the main political party representing the Armenians of Lebanon, who left their meeting with the Prime Minister-designate, said that the country was "in a phase of optimism" and that they called for the formation of an "inclusive government," in which they were ready to participate, according to deputy Hagop Pakradounian.
Also assuring that he hoped that no component would be "excluded," the elected official nevertheless stressed that he could not force those who did not wish to participate in the government to do so, in response to a journalist's question.
The Kataeb parliamentary bloc emerged from its meeting with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, stating: "The most important thing is that it be a government of competence," according to the party leader Samy Gemayel.
According to the bloc, Lebanon can recover very quickly, despite the destruction it has suffered, if the "right people" are put in charge.
The bloc stressed that the priority was to form a government "as soon as possible," while specifying that the composition of the latter was the responsibility of the prime minister, although the party expressed its opinion. Gemayel also listed the many reforms that the country must launch to redress its economy and modernize its administration.
Commenting on the boycott of the Amal Movement and Hezbollah of the parliamentary consultations, he said that the two parties had not been "excluded" and that all Lebanese political parties should be treated on an equal footing, both among themselves and before the law, whether on the political level or for other issues, such as that of armament.
Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri told LBCI that he will meet Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam on Friday.
He did not, however, guarantee that there would be a meeting between Salam and the parliamentary blocs of Amal and Hezbollah.
Asked whether the boycott of the non-binding consultations was a message abroad, Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri told LBCI that Lebanon must continue to move forward, without elaborating.
Berri also said that no calls with French President Emmanuel Macron have taken place recently, although he is expected in Beirut on Friday.
Local media previously reported that Berri and Macron held a phone call last night.
The first part of the non-binding parliamentary consultations in Parliament has ended. During these first hours of meetings, Nawaf Salam met seven parliamentary groups as well as the Deputy Speaker of the House Elias Bou Saab.
Consultations will resume at 2 p.m., with meetings with eight other parliamentary groups.
The independent national bloc, composed in particular of MPs Farid al-Khazen, Tony Frangieh and Melhem Tawk, said at the end of its meeting with the designated PM that "communication between all the components is necessary at this stage and the government needs the broadest possible consensus to fulfill its missions."
Speaking on behalf of the bloc, Frangieh called for a "competent government that meets the expectations of the present moment," affirming his support for the mandate of Joseph Aoun and the Salam government.
"Before quotas, we want a third republic that respects the Constitution and the laws," said Georges Adwan, on behalf of the parliamentary group of the Lebanese Forces (LF) after meeting with Nawaf Salam.
"Our main demand is that the government's project be [an application of] the inaugural speech [of Joseph Aoun]. We do not want to return to any previous equation, including that of 'the army, people, resistance,'" he said, in a reference to the slogan of the resistance (Hezbollah).
"If the phrase 'people, army and resistance' is included in the ministerial declaration, the LF will not participate in the government and will be part of the opposition," he added. "The Shiite tandem has the largest Shiite representation. We hope that it will participate in the new mandate, but it is not the only representative."
The LF also stressed that "no promises were made to anyone, contrary to what some MPs have said."
They lastly demanded the application of international resolutions, the fight against corruption and the independence of justice and called for the relaunch of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and for the deposits of the Lebanese to be returned.
"I hope that Nabih Berri will separate his speakership of Parliament from that of the Amal Movement, and I would have liked him to participate in today's consultations," added Adwan.
Adwan also called on Hezbollah and the Amal Movement to participate in the government. "If they do not want to, it is their right, but let them give way to other Shiites," he continued.
"We do not accept that anyone is left out, nor that there is any distinction. We are all equal under the Constitution," said Gebran Bassil, the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) after non-binding consultations with Nawaf Salam.
He also said that he did not ask for anything for the new government.
"But we are ready to help if possible. For the government to be active, there must be party representatives but also specialists," he continued.
He also stated that "unified and clear criteria must be adopted in the formation of the government" so that there is no feeling of discrimination between the parties.
The FPM leader said that its MPs demanded the implementation of the 1701 cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel and that the state extend its authority over the entire Lebanese territory.
Regarding the issue of Syrian refugees, Bassil called for their return to Syria since "there is no longer any reason for them to remain in Lebanon."
He also called for financial and political reforms, including restructuring the banking sector and restoring depositors' funds.
The parliamentary bloc of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) arrived at the Parliament to meet with Nawaf Salam.
The National Moderation bloc, composed of former Hariris, said after non-binding consultations with Nawaf Salam, that it had requested to be represented in the new government.
"You cannot build a country without the participation of everyone," the bloc added.
The three former FPM MPs, Simon Abi Ramia, Ibrahim Kanaan and Alain Aoun, also met with Nawaf Salam.
"The prime minister-designate has the will to get in touch with everyone and for everyone to be part of the government," Kanaan said after their meeting. "The most important thing is that there is a political will to make the government and the mandate of President Joseph Aoun a success."
"We are facing a historic opportunity to build a country," said the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party Taymour Joumblatt, on behalf of the Democratic Rally bloc, following a meeting with the PM-designate.
"To build a country, we need to be in contact and dialogue with everyone," he added. He finally addressed a request to all parties: To minimize pressure on Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun so that a government can be formed.
"We hope that the future government will be small and composed of women and new faces, without quotas," said MP Mark Daou after the meeting of the Alliance of Change MPs with the prime minister-designate.
"No one should feel left out. We must all work together to save the country," said Michel Doueihy, in an allusion to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement.
Nawaf Salam speaks with the parliamentary group of the Democratic Gathering, mainly made up of MPs from the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP).
Speaking after his meeting with the prime minister-designate, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said he wished Nawaf Salam success.
"I am certain that Salam's performance will not be traditional compared to previous governments, and what the Lebanese expected," he stressed. "I told Salam that we have no demands for the formation of the government."
Bou Saab also said that the prime minister-designate is "open to everyone and does not want to sideline anyone, but the responsibility lies with him that a change will be established." His remarks come as the Amal Movement and Hezbollah boycotted the ongoing non-binding parliamentary consultations.
Responding to a journalist's question, the deputy speaker said that he "does not think that Berri and Salam need a mediator," noting that they are in contact. He finally said that he could have a second meeting with Salam today.
The MPs from the Alliance of Change (Waddah Sadek, Mark Daou and Michel Doueihy) arrived at Parliament to meet with the prime minister-designate.
Nawaf Salam speaks with Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab.
Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, who was supposed to meet with Salam at 10 a.m., boycotted the non-binding consultations.
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has arrived to Parliament.
The Amal Movement and Hezbollah was studying on Tuesday evening the possibility of boycotting the non-binding parliamentary consultations planned in the House.
"Until now, we will not participate in parliamentary consultations on the basis of a political position that we take based on the developments and processes that took place in previous deadlines," Hezbollah MP Qassem Hashem told LBCI this morning.

Nawaf Salam, the new Lebanese Prime Minister, on Jan. 14, 2025 in Baabda. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)
Also yesterday, the former Lebanese ambassador to the United Nations and former judge at the International Court of Justice accepted his appointment from the Baabda Palace, after having met with the head of state and the speaker of parliament, pledging to get "to work immediately" to launch the "construction site of the new Lebanon."
Find the details here.
As part of his tour of former heads of government, Nawaf Salam met yesterday with his predecessor Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail. He also visited Fouad Siniora, who said that Salam's appointment constitutes "a step towards the rehabilitation of constitutional institutions," while stressing that Lebanon will only be able to overcome its challenges through "national unity."
Tammam Salam stated that "a new page for Lebanon began with the election of the President of the Republic and continues today with the appointment of Nawaf Salam."
"I will listen tomorrow to the MPs who are keen to grant confidence to the government, and when I have a complete vision, I will communicate it to the media," Salam said.
Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam will begin the day with a meeting at 10 a.m. with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and his deputy Elias Bou Saab.
He will then meet with the various parliamentary groups before holding individual interviews on Thursday with around twenty independent MPs.
A busy schedule for the prime minister, who obtained the support of 84 deputies during the binding parliamentary consultations conducted on Monday in Baabda.
Be sure to read the Morning Brief so you are caught up with what has been happening.
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