Hariri Says 'Situations Improving, Atmosphere Leaning to Positivity'

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Sunday that the situations in the country “started to improve” after his appointment as PM-designate and Michel Aoun's election as president.

“The convention represents a new beginning for al-Mustaqbal Movement, which has a project for the country and is looking to the future,” Hariri told an expat Mustaqbal delegation that took part in Mustaqbal's ongoing second convention at BIEL.

“After the election of a president and my appointment as PM-designate, we have noticed that the situations have started improving and people feel that the atmosphere is leaning to positivity at all levels,” Hariri added.

Aoun's election and Hariri's appointment as premier-designate have raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

In a sign that Hariri's mission as premier might not be easy, Hizbullah's MPs declined to endorse him during binding parliamentary consultations.

Hariri and Aoun are still struggling to put together a new cabinet amid conflicting demands from the political forces that are seeking to join the unity government.