Ex-PM Says Hariri Has Not Yet Decided to Step Down
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri “has not yet decided to step down” although “this is one of the serious option on the table,” an ex-PM has said.
Should Hariri take such a decision, this “will not happen without prior political moves,” the former premier, who asked not to be named, told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in remarks published Sunday.
The PM-designate “will have a final stance in light of his evaluation of the political situation,” the ex-PM said.
Noting that President Michel Aoun is “betting on” Hariri’s resignation, the former premier confirmed that the issue of naming a replacement had been discussed during a meeting for the so-called club of ex-PMs.
“They didn’t show enthusiasm to endorse this proposal, because it is unacceptable to offer Hariri’s resignation as a gift to Aoun, who is obstructing the formation of a mission-driven government and refusing to facilitate the issue out of submission to (Free Patriotic Movement head Jebran) Bassil’s desire,” the ex-PM added.
“The mere engagement in the game of naming a replacement would mean that we are automatically and willfully accepting to offer Aoun a reward for his intransigence and stubbornness,” the former premier went on to say.
Source: Naharnet
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