Will Hariri Return to the Premiership?

A former government official closely following the presidential file revealed to "Al-Anbaa" Kuwait that discussions are ongoing in political salons about the next prime minister's name so that it is ready for designation alongside the election of a president for the republic, to avoid Lebanon falling into a waiting state as it is now with the presidential issue. The government official stated, "If a political settlement occurs with local, Arab, and international consensus to elect a president for the republic, President Saad Hariri's chances will be advanced for designation in the binding parliamentary consultations to form the government, and his name will come ahead of other names currently proposed, which are limited to Presidents Najib Mikati and Tamam Salam, in addition to the President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Judge Nawaf Salam (who faces objections from Hezbollah and other components), MP Fouad Makhzoumi, and former minister Mohammad Chuqair." The official added, "Forming the government will be facilitated after electing a president for the republic and designating the prime minister, considering that the settlement will be comprehensive unlike previous government formations, which took months, some lasting a year or more." He observed that internal initiatives and efforts to accomplish the presidential entitlement still remain stagnant without any progress, indicating a lack of good prospects, as the unity of the Lebanese people is diminished due to some not being convinced that Lebanon is a final homeland for all its citizens without distinction or division, according to "Al-Anbaa" Kuwait.