Government formation moving forward: Lebanese president

Lebanon’s current political circumstances are serving to accelerate the government formation process, President Michel Aoun said Monday.

According to a statement released by his office, Aoun is closely following ongoing consultations aimed at drawing up the country’s incoming cabinet lineup.

In the statement, Aoun stressed the need to “overcome the obstacles that have hitherto prevented formationof a new government”.

Earlier Monday, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri denied reports that a dispute over the justice portfolio was holding up the announcement of the incoming cabinet.

Early this month, Hariri had expressed confidence that a new government -- representing all of Lebanon’s main ethno-religious segments -- would be unveiled within the next 10 days.

Following parliamentary polls held in May, Aoun tasked Hariri, leader of Lebanon’s Future Movement (Sunni), to form a new government.

The process, however, has been bogged down by repeated delays amid mutual recriminations and demands by certain parties for greater representation.

Lebanon’s constitution does not set any deadlines by which the prime minister-designate must unveil a new cabinet lineup.