Berri to meet Salam after consultations' end amid efforts to contain Duo's discontent
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will meet Friday with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, a day after non-binding consultations boycotted by Amal and ally Hezbollah.
Berri told LBCI that he doubts that Amal and Hezbollah's MPs would meet Salam.
The parliamentary consultations to form a new government will be held on Wednesday and Thursday. Hezbollah and Amal boycotted the consultations, to voice their objection against Salam's appointment, as Hezbollah accused unnamed parties of reneging on an agreement that promised the re-appointment of former PM Najib Mikati. The boycott does not necessarily mean that the two parties will not take part in the new government.
Berri told LBCI that "Lebanon needs to move forward," and said that he did not have a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, who is reportedly seeking to resolve the Shiite Duo's discontent. Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Wednesday a call between Macron and Berri and another between the French president and his newly-elected counterpart Joseph Aoun. Berri confirmed that a call with Macron was scheduled.
Asharq al-Awsat also said that Aoun is seeking to contain the situation and convince Amal and Hezbollah to take part in the new government. Berri told the daily that "things are not that bad," before telling LBCI that he cannot confirm that Amal and Hezbollah's blocs would meet Salam.
Macron is due to visit Lebanon on Friday to mark "the unwavering commitment of France to support Lebanon, its sovereignty and unity," his office said. He will also follow up on the implementation of a U.S.-French brokered ceasefire reached in late November between Israel and Hezbollah.
Macron said Monday that Salam's appointment represented "hope for change" in Lebanon and hoped Salam's government could be both "strong" and "represent all the diversity of the Lebanese people."
15 January 2025, 15:48
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Now is time to stand up, face reality & tell the hard truth. Hizbollah is a criminal organization that assassinated Lebanon’s best, committed massacres in Syria, acted as Iran’s foreign legion occupying Lebanon making it Iran rocket base, made Lebanon a pariah state exporting terrorism to Yemen and other nations, destroyed state institutions, bankrupted Lebanon transforming the best economy in the region and envy of the Arab world that Hariri built into a beggar nation where people can’t afford food or medicine. Recently, causing billion dollars in damages, instead of handing arms to Army, Hizb kept launching rocket to Israel causing tens of million in retaliation damage for every intercepted rocket it launched. Hizb wasted tens of millions in arms cost every day of this war while Lebanon had no money for its basis services. Hizb leaders must be in Jail. Same to Berri, the dean of political mafia, an embarrassment & opposite to Imam Saddr in every respect.
15 January 2025, 15:53
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Berri must go along with Iran criminal regime that will certainly fall. Remember 2010 Green Revolution when one third of Iranian demonstrated against the regime. They were brutally crushed by the brainwashed basij killing & imprisoning tens of thousands of most educated Iranians, exiling hundreds of thousands, a massive brain drain. Iran, one of the greatest civilization on earth has been transformed into a backward brutal prison of the spirit and mind, a pariah state, a disgrace of Iran glorious history & culture. The aims of Green Revolution & recent demonstrations were nothing more than freedom & democracy Lebanese Shia enjoy. Berri, instead of siding with Iran reformers and freedom seekers as Imam Saddr would’ve certainly done, he sided with Basij for personal benefits. Berri must go so Amal regains its soul. Why not in 2025 invite all Iranian Diaspora to Baalbek or Tyr to plan for free Iran after inevitable fall of this criminal regime.
15 January 2025, 16:05
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Iran will never rebuild the South, Bekaa or Dahie. It can't even afford to provide electricity and basic services for its citizens, still worse with coming Trump penalties. Iran only pay for mercenaries to control nations turning them into Iranian rocket base. No Arab or Western country will help Lebanon as long as Hizb not disarmed. The quicker this is done the better for Shia. Shia must wake up and bring Hizb leaders to justice to speedy the process and restore justice. Also time to replace phony Berri with a true heir of Imam Saddr, one of Lebanon's giants who had the same constructive and inclusive spirit as Rafiq Hariri; instead of this dean of political mafia that sided with criminal Basij instead of his community for personal benefit.
