Lebanon’s major political forces have yet to engage in discussions to nominate a new prime minister, sources told The National on Friday, a day after Saad Hariri abandoned efforts to form a Cabinet amid persistent disagreements with the president over its makeup.
“No discussions are under way as of yet,” a source briefed on the matter said, noting that talks are expected to gain momentum once the president sets binding parliamentary consultations to nominate a new prime minister-designate.
A source close to President Michel Aoun told The National that consultations are “likely to take place” after the Eid El Adha holiday on July 21-22.
Mr Hariri's withdrawal prompted his supporters to set up roadblocks for the second consecutive day in Beirut, Tripoli — the country's second most populous city — and the Bekaa region. Several were injured in clashes with the army, which was deployed to contain the protests.
Mr Hariri accused the president, a key ally of Lebanon's Iran-backed Shiite party and armed group Hezbollah, of blocking the formation of a Cabinet of non-partisan experts, where Mr Aoun and his son-in-law, the leader of the largest parliamentary bloc, lack veto power.
He said his proposed Cabinet was in line with a French-sponsored international initiative to help Lebanon tackle its worst economic crisis in decades. The crisis, which unfolded in late 2019, has plunged more than half the population into poverty and disrupted vital industries amid increasing shortages in fuel and medication.
Hours after announcing his withdrawal, Mr Hariri said he would refrain from nominating a candidate for the post of prime minister, raising concerns of further political paralysis that would exacerbate Lebanon’s financial meltdown.
Under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, the post of prime minister is held by a Sunni Muslim, while the president is a Christian and the speaker of Parliament a Shiite.
Mr Hariri, however, left the door open for negotiations with his political rivals over the Cabinet’s makeup while blaming Mr Aoun and Hezbollah for the political deadlock.
The president doesn’t want to form a Cabinet. When the latter decides on the date of [parliamentary] consultations, I will engage my allies in discussions to decide on future steps
Saad Hariri,
Future Movement leader
“The president doesn’t want to form a Cabinet. When the latter decides on the date of [parliamentary] consultations, I will engage my allies in discussions to decide on future steps,” the Future Movement leader said.
Mr Hariri stepped down on Thursday after Mr Aoun dismissed his latest proposal to form a Cabinet of 24 non-partisan experts that denies any one group in government a veto.
“It is clear that we will not be able to agree with the president,” Mr Hariri said shortly before announcing his decision.
His withdrawal paves the way for the parliamentary majority, led by Mr Aoun, Hezbollah and their allies, to nominate a new prime minister, barring a wide-ranging political agreement over a successor.
Hezbollah’s ally, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, had led such efforts by engaging Mr Hariri in negotiations to nominate a successor before the latter officially announced that his nine month-long discussions with the president had hit a dead end.
But Mr Berri’s efforts to secure an agreement failed to bear fruit by the time Mr Hariri, his long-time ally, decided to step down. The speaker’s support for Mr Hariri in his months-long negotiations deepened the rift between the president and Mr Berri, who had opposed Mr Aoun’s presidential bid.
A source familiar with the negotiations that preceded Mr Hariri’s withdrawal said that seeking a successor who fails to receive Mr Hariri's backing would complicate talks and hinder a political breakthrough.
On Thursday night, Mr Hariri thanked Mr Berri for his efforts while taking aim at the president and Hezbollah for undermining Lebanon’s ties with its traditional Arab allies.
“It is naive for some to think that Saudi Arabia has a problem with Hariri. The main problem is Michel Aoun and his alliance with Hezbollah,” Mr Hariri said.
The kingdom, which has been wary of Hezbollah’s growing dominion over the Lebanese government in recent years, has scaled down its support for the tiny Mediterranean nation after decades of warm business and investment ties.
Saudi officials, along with their western allies, led by the US and France, now say financial support is contingent on the implementation of reforms to tackle corruption, illegal smuggling and drug trafficking that lately prompted the kingdom to ban imports from Lebanon.
France said on Friday that it will host an aid conference organised with the support of the UN to “respond to the needs of the Lebanese whose situation is deteriorating every day".
The conference will take place on August 4, on the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion that killed more than 200 people, wounded thousands and caused billions of dollars in property losses.
The blast forced Hassan Diab's resignation as prime minister shortly after, leaving Lebanon without a functioning government despite threats by France and its allies to slap sanctions on Lebanese officials seen to be obstructing the formation of a new government.
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PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
Tamkeen's offering
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Company profile: buybackbazaar.com
Name: buybackbazaar.com
Started: January 2018
Founder(s): Pishu Ganglani and Ricky Husaini
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What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Company%20profile
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
