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GOVERNMENT FORMATION

Higher Islamic Sharia Council calls to 'facilitate the mission' of Salam, Berri denies requesting cabinet composition in advance


Higher Islamic Sharia Council calls to 'facilitate the mission' of Salam, Berri denies requesting cabinet composition in advance

The Higher Islamic Sharia Council meeting at Dar al-Fatwa under the leadership of Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian, on Jan. 18, 2025. (Credit: NNA)

The Higher Islamic Sharia Council, the highest authority of the Sunni community in Lebanon, called on Saturday to "facilitate the mission of Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam for forming the new government," which is expected to take place in the coming days.

"Forming a patriotic government, bringing together specialists and effective people, is a national duty," it said, chaired by Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian at Dar al-Fatwa, in a statement. Sunni dignitaries urged Lebanese political forces "to cooperate with the head of state and the designated Prime Minister to save the country and revive it," while praising the work and efforts of the caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati.

Non-binding consultations took place last week on Wednesday and Thursday at Parliament, where Salam met with all parliamentary groups except from Hezbollah. and the Amal Movement, which boycotted the meetings. The next day, Salam met with the leader of the Amal Movement and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who called their meeting "promising," suggesting that a government could soon be formed with the participation of the Shiite parties.

The press office of the speaker denied on Saturday "claims by a television channel that Berri requested Nawaf Salam to inform him of the government formation to give his opinion" before it is announced, reported the state-run National News Agency (NNA).

In its statement, the Higher Islamic Sharia Council also thanked MPs and Berri for the Jan. 9 election leading to the election of General Joseph Aoun to the presidency. It hailed "a constitutional, historical, and patriotic success that was long overdue," after more than two years of vacancy at the head of the state. They also see this election as "the beginning of a new phase in the history of Lebanon."

The Sunni authority also congratulated Salam, praising the speech he gave in Baabda after his appointment last week. It thanked "brotherly Arab countries," especially Saudi Arabia, as well as members of the Quintet (France, United States, Qatar, and Egypt) for "helping to provide the conditions leading to the presidential election."

The Higher Islamic Sharia Council, the highest authority of the Sunni community in Lebanon, called on Saturday to "facilitate the mission of Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam for forming the new government," which is expected to take place in the coming days."Forming a patriotic government, bringing together specialists and effective people, is a national duty," it said,...