Miqati urges swift political action after parliament elections

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged Monday groups and independents who will be represented in the new parliament to move quickly “because what we are passing through cannot withstand (political) bickering at the expense of priorities.”

Miqati was apparently referring to consultations that are expected to begin soon to name a new prime minister whose government’s main mission will be to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund to work on getting Lebanon out of its paralyzing economic crisis. The legislature will have to draft new laws related to the economic crisis, such as a capital control law.

In a sign of the difficulties lying ahead, the value of the Lebanese pound dropped by 3% on Monday reaching 28,300 to the U.S. dollar.