By Nazeer Rida

Beirut – The Lebanese Cabinet approved on Saturday the Ministerial
Statement for the new government to be presented to the parliament to
gain the vote of confidence the upcoming week. Minister Michel Pharaon as well as ministers of the Lebanese Forces
objected to the paragraph pertaining to the right of Lebanese citizens
to form a resistance, considering that resistance was the sole right of
the State. After lengthy deliberations, the Cabinet approved the ministerial statement.

In this context, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri set the confidence vote sessions for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Lebanese government approved the statement during the session
that was convened on Saturday in Baabda presidential palace and chaired
by President Michel Aoun. President Aoun underscored the importance of the work of the government to be productive and fast.

He added: “after gaining confidence, we will be working on issuing a
new electoral law and preparing necessary measures to hold the elections
on due date.” For his part, Prime Minister Saad Hariri hoped that the new
government would gain confidence between Christmas and New Year so it
would “focus on issuing a new electoral law and taking care of daily
life issues.”

Information Minister, Melhem Riachy, relayed to the press the on goings of the session after its conclusion.

“The ambiance of the session was excellent and reflects good
intentions to work hard for the success of the government’s work in
upcoming few months,” said the Information Minister.

The overall atmosphere of the Cabinet session was positive, according to Riachy.

He confirmed the right of any political faction to express its
opinion, whether in agreeing or objecting to national matters, as did
the LF and Minister Pharaon.

“The government abides by the Inauguration speech… and distances
Lebanon from external conflicts,” the ministerial statement read.

The term “restoration of trust” reassures everybody, both in Lebanon
and abroad, of their strong diplomatic relations with Arab states and
the international community, Riachy quoted Aoun as saying.