Beirut – The Lebanese Cabinet approved on Saturday the Ministerial Statement for the new government to be presented to the parliament to gain the vote of confidence the upcoming week.
Minister Michel Pharaon as well as ministers of the Lebanese Forces objected to the paragraph pertaining to the right of Lebanese citizens to form a resistance, considering that resistance was the sole right of the State.
After lengthy deliberations, the Cabinet approved the ministerial statement.
In this context, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri set the confidence vote sessions for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
The Lebanese government approved the statement during the session that was convened on Saturday in Baabda presidential palace and chaired by President Michel Aoun.
President Aoun underscored the importance of the work of the government to be productive and fast.
He added: “after gaining confidence, we will be working on issuing a new electoral law and preparing necessary measures to hold the elections on due date.”
For his part, Prime Minister Saad Hariri hoped that the new government would gain confidence between Christmas and New Year so it would “focus on issuing a new electoral law and taking care of daily life issues.”
Information Minister, Melhem Riachy, relayed to the press the on goings of the session after its conclusion.
“The ambiance of the session was excellent and reflects good intentions to work hard for the success of the government’s work in upcoming few months,” said the Information Minister.
The overall atmosphere of the Cabinet session was positive, according to Riachy.
He confirmed the right of any political faction to express its opinion, whether in agreeing or objecting to national matters, as did the LF and Minister Pharaon.
“The government abides by the Inauguration speech… and distances Lebanon from external conflicts,” the ministerial statement read.
The term “restoration of trust” reassures everybody, both in Lebanon and abroad, of their strong diplomatic relations with Arab states and the international community, Riachy quoted Aoun as saying.