An electoral worker sits next to ballot boxes, at the Justice Palace, in Jdeideh. Reuters
An electoral worker sits next to ballot boxes, at the Justice Palace, in Jdeideh. Reuters
A soldier stands guard as ballots are counted at the Justice Palace. Reuters
A soldier stands guard as ballots are counted at the Justice Palace. Reuters
Jad Ghosn, an opposition candidate, gestures as people wait for the announcement of official election results, in Jdeideh. Reuters
Jad Ghosn, an opposition candidate, gestures as people wait for the announcement of official election results, in Jdeideh. Reuters
Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announces the final results for some districts. EPA
Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announces the final results for some districts. EPA
Opposition candidate Yassin Yassin gestures as he is greeted by supporters in Jeb Jennin, West Bekaa. Reuters
Opposition candidate Yassin Yassin gestures as he is greeted by supporters in Jeb Jennin, West Bekaa. Reuters
Supporters of the Lebanese Forces take to the streets during parliamentary elections in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut. Bloomberg
Supporters of the Lebanese Forces take to the streets during parliamentary elections in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanon headed to the polls with its economy in the grip of hyperinflation. Bloomberg
Lebanon headed to the polls with its economy in the grip of hyperinflation. Bloomberg
Lebanese youths supporting Hezbollah and Amal movement wave their party flags after parliamentary elections in a suburb of Beirut. EPA
Lebanese youths supporting Hezbollah and Amal movement wave their party flags after parliamentary elections in a suburb of Beirut. EPA
Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal lift their flags during a motorbike rally after voting. AFP
Supporters of Lebanon's Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal lift their flags during a motorbike rally after voting. AFP
Children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri installed to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
Children swim in an inflatable pool that supporters of former prime minister Saad Hariri installed to illustrate their intention to boycott parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. AP Photo
Voters queue to place their vote in parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Voters queue to place their vote in parliamentary elections in Beirut, Lebanon. EPA
Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stands in a polling booth to vote in Tebnin. Reuters
Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, stands in a polling booth to vote in Tebnin. Reuters
Voters register at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Voters register at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese President Michel Aoun follows the parliamentary elections on screens from the Presidential Palace in Beirut. AP
Lebanese President Michel Aoun follows the parliamentary elections on screens from the Presidential Palace in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese woman shows her inked finger after she cast her vote at a polling station in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese woman shows her inked finger after she cast her vote at a polling station in Beirut. AP
Voters look at a list of candidates at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Voters look at a list of candidates at a polling station in Beirut. Bloomberg
Lebanese policemen help a voter into a polling station in Beirut. AP
Lebanese policemen help a voter into a polling station in Beirut. AP
A Lebanese voter casts her ballot paper in Beirut. EPA
A Lebanese voter casts her ballot paper in Beirut. EPA
Gyorgy Holvenyi (R), chief observer of the European Union election observation mission, visits a polling station in Beirut. EPA
Gyorgy Holvenyi (R), chief observer of the European Union election observation mission, visits a polling station in Beirut. EPA
Lebanese people wait to vote during parliamentary elections in the capital city. EPA
Lebanese people wait to vote during parliamentary elections in the capital city. EPA
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of Lebanon, casts his ballot paper during parliamentary elections in Beirut. EPA
Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, Grand Mufti of Lebanon, casts his ballot paper during parliamentary elections in Beirut. EPA
People queue to cast their votes in the Lebanese capital. AP
People queue to cast their votes in the Lebanese capital. AP
Posters in Al Tariq Al Jadida, Beirut, depict Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri. Reuters
Posters in Al Tariq Al Jadida, Beirut, depict Lebanon’s former prime minister Saad Hariri. Reuters
A woman prepares her ballot at a polling station in a southern suburb of Beirut. AFP
A woman prepares her ballot at a polling station in a southern suburb of Beirut. AFP
Former prime minister Hassan Diab, who succeeded Saad Hariri, casts his ballot in Beirut. AFP
Former prime minister Hassan Diab, who succeeded Saad Hariri, casts his ballot in Beirut. AFP
A voter checks lists for the parliamentary election at a polling station in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
A voter checks lists for the parliamentary election at a polling station in the Lebanese capital Beirut. AFP
A woman waits to vote in Beirut. EPA
A woman waits to vote in Beirut. EPA
Security forces stand guard at Nur Square on the southern entrance of the northern Lebanese port city Tripoli. AFP
Security forces stand guard at Nur Square on the southern entrance of the northern Lebanese port city Tripoli. AFP
Former Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election, in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Reuters
Former Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora casts his vote at a polling station during the parliamentary election, in Sidon, southern Lebanon. Reuters
A man check voters' lists in the capital Beirut. AP
A man check voters' lists in the capital Beirut. AP
A woman votes in Lebanon's parliamentary elections in Beirut. AP
A woman votes in Lebanon's parliamentary elections in Beirut. AP
Police check the ID of voters outside a polling station near the Lebanese coastal city of Byblos (Jbeil), north of Beirut. AFP
Police check the ID of voters outside a polling station near the Lebanese coastal city of Byblos (Jbeil), north of Beirut. AFP
A voter dips her finger in ink after casting her ballot in the parliamentary election at a polling station near Byblos. AFP
A voter dips her finger in ink after casting her ballot in the parliamentary election at a polling station near Byblos. AFP
A Lebanese woman shows her ink-marked thumb after voting in Shmustar, Bekaa valley. EPA
A Lebanese woman shows her ink-marked thumb after voting in Shmustar, Bekaa valley. EPA
People queueing to vote at Ras El Nabeh Public School for Girls. Fatima Al Mahmoud/ The National
People queueing to vote at Ras El Nabeh Public School for Girls. Fatima Al Mahmoud/ The National

MENA

Lebanon

Lebanon to start talks for new prime minister on June 23

Forming a new government may still take months as political factions jockey over nominations and potential cabinet appointments

Sunniva Rose
Sunniva Rose

June 15, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Binding consultations with members of Lebanon's recently elected parliament to nominate a new prime minister are set to start on June 23, the presidency said on Wednesday.

Consultations with Lebanon’s 128 MPs will take place at the president's Baabda Palace outside Beirut.

President Michel Aoun is scheduled to start with a mid-morning one-on-one meeting with Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Abou Saab, Baabda said.

Read More

Lebanon appoints local auditor for collapsing state electricity company

Lebanon offers 'more united approach' to maritime dispute with Israel

Mr Aoun will then spend fifteen minutes with each of the parliament’s 13 political blocs where representatives of each bloc will put forward their nominations.

The new prime minister will be selected based on the consensus of these nominations and must then form a government, a process that often takes months.

Analysts previously told The National that they expect caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati to be chosen again.

A three-time prime minister who made a fortune in the telecom sector, Mr Mikati is a consensual figure who reputedly enjoys good relations with most political parties.

Mr Mikati's main rival, also several-time prime minister Saad Hariri, announced his withdrawal from political life on January 22 and declined to run in May’s parliamentary election.

Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system dictates that the prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim, the President a Maronite Christian and the Parliament speaker Shiite Muslim.

Lebanon needs a new government to push forward difficult reforms requested by the IMF for a bail-out.

The country's political class has been unable to address its worsening economic crisis which started in 2019 and has pushed nearly three-quarters of the population into poverty.

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
Premier League results

Saturday

Crystal Palace 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 2

Cardiff City 2 West Ham United 0

Huddersfield Town 0 Bournemouth 2

Leicester City 3 Fulham 1

Newcastle United 3 Everton 2

Southampton 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Manchester City 3 Watford 1

Sunday

Liverpool 4 Burnley 2

Chelsea 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 0

 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Where%20the%20Crawdads%20Sing
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOlivia%20Newman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Daisy%20Edgar-Jones%2C%20Taylor%20John%20Smith%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20David%20Strathairn%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: June 15, 2022, 2:35 PM`
LebanonLebanese elections 2022Michel Aoun