At the Baabda Presidential Palace in Beirut, Mikati presented Aoun the results of the meetings with the blocs and lawmakers who are members of the unicameral legislature with a view to the appointment of the ministerial cabinet.

At the close of the two days of meetings at the legislative body, Mikati acknowledged the prevalence of the national interest in each approach by the representatives in order to promote Lebanon’s recovery.

The re-elected prime minister expressed optimism for the rapid appointment of the new Council of Ministers with the aim to finalize the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the power plan and the maritime border demarcation file.

The holding of the consultations gave continuity to the electoral process that started on May 15 with the legislative elections and they are the prelude to the dispute for the presidential race, scheduled by year-end.

Lebanon recognizes 18 faith confessions and the national pact for independence from France in 1943 established that the president of the Republic must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the head of Parliament a Shiite, and so on with the other positions.

pgh/iff/oda/yma