Khalil: AMAL, Hizbullah Made Concessions Thinking Parties Would Follow Suit

AMAL Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Thursday stressed Lebanon’s need for the "speedy" formation of a national unity government, urging political parties to make concessions “like we did” in order to reach that end.

Khalil, speaking during a celebration in South Lebanon, said the new Cabinet should include the majority of political parties, where “calm and responsible rhetoric must be conducted away from individual interests.”

Turning to the delayed formation process, he said: “AMAL (movement) and Hizbullah party have from the beginning vowed to facilitate the formation process. Today, we invite all parties to do the same because every moment of delay has an impact on the public finances, on the economy and lives and trust of people.”

The Minister added: “We thought all political parties will follow suit when we facilitated the formation and made (political) compromises,” he added.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24. His mission is being hampered by political wrangling over shares, especially over Christian and Druze representation.