by aawsat.com — Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri accused on Tuesday Hezbollah of hindering the formation of a new government after months of political wrangling. “It’s very regrettable that Hezbollah has put itself in the position of bearing responsibility for hindering the government,” Hariri told at a news conference. “I’ve done my job and the government is ready” otherwise, he said. Government formation is often a drawn-out process in Lebanon, where a complex governing system seeks to maintain a precarious balance of power between its various political and religious communities. Hezbollah has pushed for Sunni politicians allied to its movement, but opposed to Hariri to be represented in the future cabinet. Hariri has refused to give up a portfolio that would otherwise go to his own party. “I never imagined that issues would be run this way and for them to be thrown in the president’s face and then mine,” continued Hariri. He stressed that conditions and ministers would not be imposed on him. Moreover, he rejected accusations that he was stoking sectarianism in Lebanon, adding: “I know where the interests of the Sunnis of Lebanon lie.” “Sunnis are a main component in Lebanon and they will not become anyone’s pawns,” Hariri declared.

The president and PM-designate alone are authorized by the constitution to form a new cabinet, without the meddling of a third party, he stated. He refused for new norms to be imposed in the country, voicing his commitment to the Taif Accord that has protected Lebanon. On May 24, after parliamentary elections, President Michel Aoun nominated Hariri for his third term as prime minister and tasked him with forming a cabinet. But debates have dragged out the process, starting with a now resolved debate over Christian representation. In 2009 it also took Hariri five months to form a government, while his successor Tammam Salam took 10 months after he was nominated in 2013.