President
Aoun: “A government is the best that can be reached and is able to work. Our
concerns lie in the priority of solving people’s current problems”.
President
Aoun: “We will begin to address the people’s current problems and all that the
calamities which struck Lebanon, in addition to the results of bad governance for
over 30 years. We will emerge from this chasm”.
President
Berri: “From now on, let’s get to good work”.
Premier
Mikati: “We, in cooperation with His Excellency the President, have formed a
government. We are forming a working group that works as one, and we will work
according to the principle that we are for the whole country, not for one group
against another, according to the provisions of the National Accord Document
and the Constitution”.
Premier
Mikati: “I hope that the government will be able to advance the country and
achieve people’s aspirations”.
Prime
Minister Mikati pledged to hold the parliamentary and municipal elections on
time”.
President of
the Republic, General Michel Aoun, and Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, signed the
government-formation decree, this afternoon at the Presidential Palace, forming
a government of twenty-four ministers.
The President described
the government as “The best which can be reached and is able to work.
“Constitutional
matters contributed to delaying the formation a little, but we have preserved
the constitution and the traditions of formation. Our concerns lie in the
priority of solving people’s current problems, and we have great
responsibilities. We have to work to develop and get out of the current crisis
that put us in the marshes and all that the calamities that struck Lebanon have
left us. We must not forget that the results of bad governance over 30 years
were cumulative, in addition to the great calamities that befell the country”
President Aoun added.
For his part, Premier
Mikati said “We are forming a working group that works as one to prevent
frustration and despair, and we will work with hope and determination in
accordance with the principle that we are for the whole of the country and not
for one group against another, in accordance with the provisions of the
National Accord Document, the Lebanese Constitution and the laws in force”.
PM Mikati also
pledged to hold the parliamentary and municipal elections on time. Concerning what
is known as “blocking third veto”, Mikati said “We do not want anyone to
disrupt, and whoever wants to disrupt, let him leave the government, and bear the
responsibility for his actions”.
President Aoun had
met PM Mikati at Baabda Palace, and deliberated with him the latest contacts,
the path of the process and the formation of the government.
Afterwards
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, joined the meeting and later the
Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Judge Mahmoud Makkiyeh, was
summoned. Judge Makkiyeh, read the decrees.
At 2:30, Speaker
Berri left the Presidential Palace, and only said to the journalists “From now
on, let’s get to good work”, while the President resumed his meeting with the
Prime Minister.
Government-Formation
Decree:
At 2:30pm,
decrees were issued accepting the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s
government, naming PM Najib Mikati as new Prime Minister, for the formation of
the new government.
The first two
decrees were signed by President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, while the
third was signed by President Aoun and PM Mikati.
Decrees were read
by the Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers as
follows:
-Decree No.
8374 - Considering the government headed by Mr. Hassan Diab as resigned:
“The President
of the Republic,
Pursuant to the
Constitution, in particular Clause 5 of Article 53 thereof and Clause (A) of
Clause 1 of Article 69 thereof,
Draws the
following:
Article 1: The
government headed by Mr. Hassan Diab has resigned.
Article 2:
This decree shall be published and notified as needed, and shall be enforced
immediately upon its issuance.
Baabda, 10/9/2021,
President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun”.
-Decree No. 8375
- Nomination of Mr. Mohammad Najib Azmi Mikati as Prime Minister:
“The President
of the Republic,
Pursuant to the
Constitution, in particular Clause 3 of Article 53 thereof,
Pursuant to
Decree No. 8374 dated 10/9/2021, which includes considering the government
headed by Mr. Hassan Diab resigned,
Draws the
following:
Article 1: Mr.
Mohammad Najib Azmi Mikati shall be named Prime Minister.
Article 2:
This decree shall be published and notified as needed, and shall be enforced
immediately upon its issuance.
Baabda on 10/9/2021
President of
the Republic, General Michel Aoun”.
-Decree 8376 -
Government Formation:
“The President
of the Republic,
Pursuant to the
Constitution, in particular Clause 4 of Article 53 thereof,
Pursuant to
Decree No. 8375 dated 10/9/2021, which includes naming Mr. Mohammad Najib Azmi
Mikati as Prime Minister,
On the proposal
of the Prime Minister,
Draws the
following:
Article 1:
Appointing Messrs.:
Mohammad Najib
Azmi Mikati, Prime Minister
Souada
Al-Shami, Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Bou
Habib, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates
Abbas
Al-Halabi, Minister of Education and Higher Education
George Al Kordahi,
Minister of Information
Henry Khoury,
Minister of Justice
George Kallas,
Minister of Youth and Sports
Maurice Slim as
Minister of National Defense
Issam Sharaf
El-Din, Minister of the Displaced
Youssef Al-Khalil,
Minister of Finance
Najla Riachi,
Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs
Hector El
Hajjar, Minister of Social Affairs
Kork, known as
George Bushkian, as Minister of Industry
Johnny Qurum,
Minister of Communications
Walid Nassar,
Minister of Tourism
Bassam Mawlawi,
Minister of Interior and Municipalities
Firas Al-Abyad,
Minister of Public Health
Walid Fayyad,
Minister of Energy and Water
Mohamed Wissam
Mortada, Minister of Culture
Nasser Yassin,
Minister of Environment
Mustafa Bayram,
Minister of Labor
Abbas Hajj
Hassan, Minister of Agriculture
Ali Hamiya,
Minister of Public Works and Transport
Amin Salam,
Minister of Economy and Trade
Article 2: This
decree shall be published where needed, and shall be enforced upon issuance.
The government
was called to take a memorial photo with His Excellency the President, His
Excellency the Speaker of Parliament and His Excellency the Prime Minister, at 11:00am
next Monday, followed by a session of the Council of Ministers headed by His
Excellency the President at Baabda Palace.
PM Mikati’s Statement:
“It has been 13
months since the previous government’s resignation, and on this occasion I
salute PM Hassan Diab for what he did during the previous phase and the
difficulties involved.
Usually, after
the formation of the government, the Prime Minister recites a written statement
outlining the policy and direction of his government, but today the situation
is exceptional and I will say a word from the heart.
Who among us
does not know the situation and the state of the country. All are affected by
the current situation. There are mothers who shorten doses of milk from five to
three doses because infant formula is missing.
Little ones ask
their fathers whether we will go to school or not. Little ones tell their
fathers, my cousin Hajjar and our neighbors traveled, so why don’t we leave the
country too.
The father is
silent because of his incapability, while he has no disposal to his bank
accounts if he has an account, and if he can get a portion of his salary, this
does not constitute 10 percent of what it was a year ago.
The mother
spoke and there is nothing wrong with her, if her eldest son left the country,
the tear will be the same and she is unable to buy a Panadol pill, because it
is not available. This reality we all know and feel. The situation is
very difficult, but it is not impossible to solve it if we, the Lebanese, join
hands and unite efforts.
In cooperation
with His Excellency the President, we formed a government, the preparation of
which took some time, and perfection is for God, but I assure you that we are
forming a working team that works as one to prevent frustration and despair.
We will work
with hope and determination. This is what I promise you today, and we will not
save again unless we will contact all international bodies in order to be able
to secure the simplest matters of life that have become essential, we will work
according to the principle that we belong to the whole country and not to one
group against another, in accordance with the provisions of the National Accord
Document, the Lebanese Constitution and the laws in force.
I am sure that
nothing will be interrupted between the Arab world and Lebanon. Lebanon belongs
to this world and is proud of its brothers and sisters, and they will never
leave Lebanon. In conclusion, God, by His permission, will be with me”.
Questions &
Answers:
Then the
following dialogue took place between PM Mikati and journalists:
Question: Have
you obtained guarantees that the government will obtain confidence in the Parliament?
Answer: “It
is enough for us to argue today about one-third, two-thirds, three-eighths and
others. Please leave politics aside for now, we will work together in
government and will be a workshop to secure the minimum required for the
people. This is what is required today. I assure you that the ministers
will help me build Lebanon and return it to where it should be. They are ready
to contribute to the revival of the country. As for the phrase “the blocking
third veto”, I say we do not want anyone to disrupt, and whoever wants to
block, let him leave the government, and bear the responsibility for his work.
Today we are talking about a workshop, and I have a word to address to the
media. Brothers, "a word of tenderness and a word of madness",
please, we want to raise the morale of the people and, together, contribute to
stopping the frustration we are living in. A sweet word is mercy, and have
mercy on those on earth, and those in the heavens will have mercy on you. If we
spread love between us, affection and mercy, God will reward us with good”.
Question: What
about confidence in the parliament?
Answer: “His
Excellency the President assured me that he will communicate with the Strong
Lebanon Bloc, which will inevitably give confidence to the government”.
Question: According
to the French initiative, ministers are supposed to be independent specialists.
Aren’t you afraid that some non-independent ministers will hinder the
government's work?
Answer: “At
this particular stage, there will be a revival workshop with the participation
of everyone. I cannot exclude anyone who likes to participate in the
government. It is true that the ministers have their affiliations, perhaps, but
they are specialists, and we need everyone’s participation. We cannot bring in
specialists who do not belong to any party, and say that we want to address the
problems at hand. I can’t go to the International Monetary Fund, get the
government’s approval of an agreement with it, and then the agreement stops
somewhere else. Therefore, at this particular stage, we are compelled to do
what we did, if we really want to get out of this situation. We have eight
months, from now until May 21, to be able to implement what is required of us.
I ask you to bear with us, and I said that perfection belongs to God, but the
entire work team that I formed will, God willing, be determined to work hard
all the time”.
Question: What
about the club of former Prime Ministers?
Answer: “Communication
with members is continuing, and they have given me their confidence. As long as
I work under the roof of the constitution and the Taif Accord, and do what
pleases my conscience, and they are sure of that, I do not think they have any
fault with this matter. The important thing for them is to form a government,
because they are fully aware of where the failure to form a government has led
us so far. Even an association cannot function without a board of directors, so
how can a country be run without a government?”.
Question: Does
this government pledge to hold the parliamentary elections on time? Will you
run for the parliamentary elections?
Answer: “People
are full of words and promises. I pledge from here and inevitably the
implementation of this constitutional entitlement. I pledge to hold the
parliamentary elections on time, as well as the municipal elections on the same
day. This is what I pledge, and this is my intention, and I will insist on
carrying out the elections on their scheduled date, that is, on Sunday, May 8,
2022. As for my candidacy for the parliamentary elections, I will announce it
in due course”.
Question: Does
the government have a practical plan to confront the difficult situation, or
will it rely only on foreign aid?
Answer: “Of
course, there is a plan that the government will implement, and it will be put
forward as soon as possible to save the country. As for the lifting of
subsidies, today we have reached the end, from where will we get the dollars to
continue subsidies? We have no desire to lift these subsidies, but there
is no money left. This is not our desire, but we no longer have any reserves or
funds to help, so we all have to put up with it. Today, we are in a plane that
is making a quick emergency landing, and what we ask of the passengers, the
Lebanese, is to tighten their seat belts so that we can take off quickly.
Everyone’s seat belts are tugged because we’re in a tough situation. People
should know that now is not the time for entertainment and prosperity, but
hopefully we will soon change the course of the plane.
Question: The
Syrian state has expressed a desire to cooperate with Lebanon in the field of
supplying it with electric power. What is your position?
Answer: “We would
deal with anyone, with the exception of Israel, of course. This government is
in the interest of Lebanon. I deal with any party that extends a hand to
Lebanon for the sake of Lebanon and the Lebanese interest”.
President Aoun:
Then President
Aoun had a chat with accredited journalists at Baabda Palace, where he was
briefed on their conditions and answered their questions.
The President considered
that the government “Is the best that can be reached, and that it is able to
work, but our concerns lie in the priority of solving people’s current
problems, and we have great responsibilities and we have to work. Let’s evolve
and get out of the current crisis”.
In response to
what was said about him obtaining the blocking third veto in the government,
President Aoun denied this and said “We are not thinking about this matter. It
was a political war on us, and we took what was necessary. As for the important
thing, it lies in consensus in the work, which will be the first reason for
success”.
On the
possibility of giving the “Strong Lebanon” bloc confidence, President Aoun made
it clear that confidence is given to the government’s program.
President Aoun also
clarified that constitutional matters contributed to delaying the formation a
little, but we preserved the constitution and the traditions of composition,
until we reached formation.
“As for the
basic problems, we will begin to address them, the most important of which are
the people’s concerns regarding gasoline, diesel, and bread...and all that the
calamities that struck Lebanon. And we must not forget that the results of bad
governance over 30 years were cumulative, and to them were added the great
calamities that befell this country, in addition to strikes, the Corona pandemic
and the explosion of the port of Beirut” the President stated.
In addition, President
Aoun pointed out that the siege suffered by Lebanon was tantamount to a war, as
a financial blockade was imposed because of Hezbollah, and the problems caused
by the Syrian war on Lebanon distanced it from its surroundings and the vital
region for it towards the Arab countries.
Regarding the
relationship with Syria, President Aoun considered that the course of normal
events necessitates the return of relations with Syria, and that no one is
going backwards but forwards, and peace is before us, not behind us.
As for the
issue of Lebanon and its use of the term “Hell”, President Aoun indicated that
what he had said in the past was misinterpreted, either out of ignorance or on
purpose, because the word came at the time in response to the question, “Where
will we go?” My answer was: “To hell, and we have already lived through the
situation. But we will come out of this great chasm and solve the problems”.
The President reiterated
what he had promised in terms of making a difference in the last year of his
term.
As for the drop
in the dollar exchange rate, President Aoun saw that the money changers had run
out of money, and they had to bring in the Lebanese money to complete it.