Berri Welcomes Hariri’s Speech but Says Cabinet Formation Won’t be Easy

Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri’s speech and lauded the Mustaqbal movement leader’s decision to abide by the constitution and accept democratic results.

However, in remarks to An Nahar and As Safir dailies on Friday, Berri wondered why the March 14 forces severely criticized the March 8 alliance’s “constitutional” decision to resign from the government.

“We exercised our constitutional right to resign from the cabinet,” he said.

"A constitutional process is under way and we will accept its results despite intimidation on the street and elsewhere," Hariri said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday.

"We will go to the parliamentary consultations organized by the president on Monday and I remain committed as a candidate, in line with my parliamentary bloc's decision," he added to applause from party members.

“I welcome Hariri’s speech as much as former PM Fouad Saniora welcomed it,” Berri told An Nahar and As Safir.

However, he stressed that no matter which side wins in its choice for the premiership nominee, “the government won’t be formed easily.”