Salam meets Aoun, says all blocs and Berri have 'showed positivity'

Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam met with President Joseph Aoun on Friday evening to brief him on the outcome of his non-binding consultations with lawmakers and his talks with Speaker Nabih Berri.

Aoun and Salam agreed on "the need to swiftly form a government, especially amid the positive atmosphere that the PM-designate sensed from the MPs he met and also from Speaker Berri," the Presidency said.

Salam for his part said that he "will work 24/7 to finalize the government's formation and launch the needed salvation efforts."

"The atmosphere is more than positive among all blocs and also with Speaker Berri," Salam said.

Asked whether the Shiite Duo will take part in the government or only Berri's Amal Movement, Salam said: "I must be given some time to prepare a cabinet line-up."

Reassuring that the new government's formation "will not be delayed," Salam said he discussed with Aoun "the broad lines of this government, in terms of its size, type and principles."

As for the situation in the south, Salam said he told French President Emmanuel Macron in a meeting earlier on Friday in Beirut that "the Israeli withdrawal must not be delayed, even for a single hour, because that would threaten the country's stability."

"Accordingly, France and the international community must exert pressure in this regard," Salam added.