“I call upon PM Hariri to come to Baabda, for immediate government formation, in agreement with me and in accordance with the mechanism and constitutional standards which are adopted for forming governments, without argument or delay”.
“In the event that the PM-Designate finds himself unable to head a national salvation government, then he should give way for everyone who is able to form a government”.
“If the nation collapses and the people become prisoners of despair and frustration, there will be no use to all positions”.
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, called on PM-designate, Saad Hariri, to come to Baabda for “Immediate government formation, in agreement with me, in accordance with the mechanism and constitutional standards adopted for the formation of governments, without argument or delay”.
In a word addressing the Lebanese, this evening, the President indicated that “If the Prime Minister-designate finds himself unable to form and head a national salvation government, which tackles the dangerous situations which the country and its people are suffering from, then he must make room for everyone capable of forming a government”.
In addition, President Aoun had stressed that there is no use in all positions if the country collapses and the people become prisoners of despair and frustration, as there is no escape but anger. People sufferings have reached levels which are unbearable”.
Moreover, the President pointed out that he had “Walked in the rugged path of accountability in light of a system in which authoritarian and institutional corruption was rooted. “All the barricades were raised in front of me, and you know that I have not been accustomed to submitting in defense of your dignity and free, decent life” President Aoun said.
President Speech:
“My Fellow Lebanese ladies and gentlemen,
Everything seems trivial compared to your suffering, which has reached levels that no people are capable of tolerating. Indeed, the pandemic is lurking, and so are poverty, destitution, unemployment, migration, oppression and the slashed purchasing power entailed by the rocketing value of the US dollar versus the Lebanese Pound (Lira); along with the shortage of vital supplies, the decline of subsidies which were for them, and the dilemma that are facing the various constitutional authorities, and the administrations and institutions in charge of securing the essentials of livelihood, while we have not yet got over the tragedy of the Beirut Port explosion and its catastrophic repercussions. Trauma after trauma, and every day brings along its own burdens and concerns, aggravating anxiety due to the incapacity to sustain the most basic means for a decent life.
I chose to keep quiet in order to make room for solutions at various levels and to avoid any incident entailed by the sharp polarizations and divisions in political stances, as well as the collapse of the economic and financial system due to decades-long wrong policies. Nevertheless, I have gone down the rough road of accountability, in a system where authoritarian and institutional corruption is deep-rooted, and all sorts of roadblocks were thrown before me; and you know well that I am not used to yielding and giving up, in defending your dignity and your decent free living.
Today, driven by my oath, and after Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri has presented the headlines of a governmental draft that does not fulfill the minimum of national balance and pact-adherence, which has dragged the country into the tunnel of stalling, I hereby invite him to the Baabda Palace to form a cabinet at once, in agreement with me, according to the constitutional mechanism and criteria adopted in the formation of governments, without any pretexts or delay.
Nevertheless, if he finds himself incapable of forming and heading a national rescue government that would stand up to the dangerous situation that the country and the people are going through, then he must clear the way for any person capable of formation.
This will be motivated by his constitutional responsibility and his national and human conscience because such suffering shall have no mercy on those responsible for stalling, exclusion and the eternalization of “caretaking”.
This is a determined and sincere call to the Prime Minister designate to take the lead immediately and go for one of the two available options, whereas there is no use after today to remain silent and stay in strongholds, hoping to save Lebanon.
All positions are vain and deflecting responsibilities onto each other is pointless if the country falls apart and people become prisoners of despair and frustration, indulging in inevitable anger”.