Dubai: Opposition forces in Lebanon on Monday named former Prime Minister Najeeb Mikati as their candidate for the premiership as Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah vowed his coalition movement will form a national government if their candidate wins the confidence of parliamentarians.
Mikati's candidacy has also reportedly won the backing of France and Qatar in addition to Syria. As Safir newspaper yesterday said Mikati's nomination came following intensive contacts between Paris and Doha that also included prominent regional capitals.
Reconnection
Fifty-five year old Mikati, who served as prime minister for three months in April 2005 meanwhile, declared himself a candidate of moderation, adding "my candidacy is not against anyone, but an opportunity to reconnect what was lost between the leaders."
Mikati's announcement came hours before President Michel Sulaiman was to launch consultations with parliamentary groups on appointing a new premier after the powerful Hezbollah brought down Hariri's unity government earlier this month.
Members of caretaker prime minister Sa'ad Hariri's coalition said they viewed Mikati's candidacy as treason given that he was elected to parliament as a member of Hariri's coalition.
Tripoli coalition — Minister Mohammad Safadi, MP Qasim Abdul Aziz and MP Ahmad Karami — were to vote for Mikati yesterday, giving the opposition a comfortable majority in the parliament.
With the support of Druze leader Walid Junblatt, it is most likely that Hezbollah and its allies, known as the forces of March 8, will be able to exclude Hariri from forming a new government.
Rejection
A statement from Hariri's press office rejected what Mikati said that he is a "consensus candidate" for the premiership, saying "there is no consensus candidate in the parliamentary consultations on the nomination. There is a candidate named Sa'ad Hariri, and another candidate belonging to March 8 forces. The choice here is clear,"
The statement added that The Future Movement rejects participation in any government headed by a March 8 nominee.
On Sunday night Nasrallah termed what is happening in Lebanon as "political assassination of the resistance".
In a televised speech, Nasrallah said, "What has happened, and is still happening is a political assassination of the resistance, the group that is one of the most important in the region and that is protecting Lebanon today," promising a unity government in which all parties will participate, once a candidate is chosen during.
Destiny
He felt it was a disaster that Lebanon's fate is dependent on one person and that no one knows where Lebanon is heading, if that one person, Sa'ad Hariri, is not assigned as the country's new premier.
"If any country's destiny and dignity depends on one person to take the position of the premiership, then this is disrespectful to the country and the Lebanese people."
Nasrallah also voiced hope that if the March 8 coalition's candidate wins the premiership, the world would respect Lebanese legitimacy and constitutional institutions.
