Beirut, Lebanon – Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Thursday tasked former Education Minister Hassan Diab with forming the country’s next government after Hezbollah and its allies nominated him during long-awaited talks with members of parliament.
Lebanon has had a caretaker government since October 29, when Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned amid a mass uprising against the ruling elite.
Hariri had been expected to be selected again. However, he stepped aside on Wednesday, saying that other parties had not agreed to his conditions to form a technocratic government – a main demand of protesters who, however, reject Hariri.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Tripoli and Beirut to denounce Diab’s designation. Bins and tyres were set on fire in the streets of the capital, blocking roads. Meanwhile, several hundred people gathered by central Beirut’s Nejmeh Square, the seat of parliament, chanting a Christmas-themed slogan against the prime minister-designate.
“Helo ho, hela ho, hela ho. They brought in Hassan Diab and we will bring him down,” they sang.
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Diab served as education minister from 2011 to 2014 in a cabinet made up of Hezbollah and its allies. The 60-year-old father of three studied computer engineering in the United Kingdom before returning to the Lebanese capital in 1985 to join the American University of Beirut as an assistant professor. He has remained at the university ever since, rising to the post of vice president and professor of computer engineering.
Diab addressed street protesters directly during prepared remarks read from the presidential palace, in which he said there was “no going back to before October 17,” the day the demonstrations demanding an overhaul of the political system began.
“I feel that what you have said represents me and all those in Lebanon who want to create a state of law and justice,” he said. “Our efforts should focus entirely on stopping the [economic and financial] collapse and returning confidence.”
Diab said he would begin consultations with parties on the formation of the next government on Saturday, and urged protesters to “give me a chance”.
