The interim prime minister speaks of “a new phase” after the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanese president
MADRID, 10 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The interim prime minister of Lebanon, Nayib Mikati, assured this Friday that the authorities will begin the process of disarming the Shiite party-militia Hezbollah south of the Litani River, within the framework of the ceasefire agreed at the end of November with Israel and the objective of guaranteeing State control throughout the national territory.
“We are in a new phase in which we will begin in southern Lebanon, and specifically south of Litani, to remove weapons so that the State can be present throughout Lebanese territory,” he said after a meeting with the new president. of the country, Joseph Aoun, elected to office on Thursday.
Thus, he stressed after his meeting with Aoun at the Baabda Palace that both have addressed “the situation in the south and the need to complete the rapid and complete Israeli withdrawal, the restoration of stability and the end of Israeli violations in Lebanon.” .
“We have talked about the existing challenges and about (Aoun’s) inaugural speech, in which the guidelines were set for any new Government in order to apply what was established, with the necessary constitutional steps,” he explained, as reported by the agency. Lebanese state news agency, NNA.
Furthermore, he revealed that Aoun has asked him for the Government to continue carrying out its work until the formation of the new Executive and has expressed his desire for this to take place “as soon as possible”, without for now there being any indications as to whether Aoun himself Mikati could be reappointed as prime minister.
“Without a doubt, the Government must be able to materialize the instructions presented by the president,” said Mikati, who stressed that the situation “requires everyone to cooperate seriously to save the country.”
Finally, the prime minister has expressed his hope that Aoun’s mandate at the head of the country will be one of “success and prosperity” for Lebanon, while revealing that they have addressed the political situation in the country during the two years of vacancy in the Presidency and interim Executive.
For his part, former president Michel Aoun also paid a visit to the Baabda Palace during the day to congratulate his successor. “I have come to congratulate the president and wish him success in these difficult circumstances,” the former president said through a brief message on his account on the social network X.
Aoun was elected on Thursday as the new Lebanese president after more than two years of vacuum in office following the end of the mandate of Michel Aoun – with no family relationship with the new president – in October 2022 and amid complaints about a possible violation of the Constitution as the chosen one is still at the head of the Armed Forces.
Thus, several parliamentarians affirmed that this election represents a violation of the Magna Carta, which should be amended so that Aoun can assume office, since it currently prevents the election as president of any person who has held a position of responsibility during the two previous years.
The vote went ahead after twelve failed attempts due to the legislative blockade between the blocs led by Hezbollah and its opponents, which has finally been broken in the midst of the ceasefire agreed at the end of November with Israel and in the face of international pressure to end it. to the void in the Presidency, considered key to getting the country out of the deep economic and social crisis in which it has found itself for years.