Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam expressed confidence on Friday that the formation of a new government would not face delays, highlighting a highly positive atmosphere in the discussions regarding its composition.
Salam, nominated by a majority of lawmakers on Monday to form the new government, did not receive support from the Shi’ite factions Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
“The atmosphere is more than positive among all the blocs and today from Speaker Berri,” Salam stated after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun, elected by parliament on Jan 9.
Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, described his meeting with Salam on Friday as “promising.”
Hezbollah and Amal had pushed for the continuation of incumbent Prime Minister Najib Mikati in office, but a majority of lawmakers chose Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice.
Government formation talks in Lebanon are typically lengthy due to negotiations among sectarian factions over cabinet positions.
