Lebanon’s Aoun says committed to PM nomination
Country has been without gov’t since resignation of Diab’s cabinet in August
BEIRUT, Lebanon
Lebanese President Michel Aoun vowed Wednesday to shoulder his responsibility in designating a prime minister to form a new government to deal with the country's economic crisis.
“I will stay committed to the process and hope that everyone thinks well about the designation and [government] formation,” Aoun said in a televised address.
“I have said my word and I will not walk away,” Aoun stressed.
Lebanon has been without a government since the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab's cabinet in August following a mass explosion at Beirut's port.
Talks between the country's sectarian parties have failed to agree on the formation of a new government to carry out reforms needed to cruise the country out of its current economic crisis.
Aoun said that corruption has become “institutionally organized and deep-rooted” in Lebanon.
Since October 2019, Lebanon has been mired by protests over the deterioration of the economic conditions, unemployment and the imposition of extra taxes.
*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara