“Opening doors of Riyadh to Beirut”; The first test of the new Lebanese government.
A Lebanese newspaper reported on the new Lebanese government under Prime Minister Najib Mikati, describing the attempt to open the doors of Saudi Arabia as the government’s first tough test.
The new Lebanese government finally won a vote of confidence in the Lebanese parliament with 85 votes in favor and 15 votes against last night (Sunday night / September 21), according to the International Group of Sach News Agency.
The vote of confidence in the new Lebanese government took place at the Al-Awenisco Palace in Beirut, lasting eight hours and witnessing debates among delegates.
Al-Akhbar newspaper wrote in a report that the appearance of Najib Mikati’s government is similar to the previous government of Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab, and its interior is similar to all thirty national unity governments, whose task is to form large factions and ministers. It is chosen from people affiliated with parties or obedient people close to them.
The report goes on to say that when Hassan Diab’s government was formed on January 21, 2020, it consisted of 20 expert ministers, with only two experienced former ministers and the rest becoming ministers for the first time. Mikati’s government is very similar to Diab’s government, with the exception of its prime minister, who has been a minister several times and has been prime minister twice. The ministers of the Mikati government have also been appointed by large factions, so it can be said that the factions have automatically voted in confidence to continue their role in running the country. ».
Al-Akhbar added that apparently what happened was a technocratic government similar to the one Saad al-Hariri intended to form, and that the government had resigned. Ate, pass; Diab, for example, failed to open the door to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states to recognize him and help his government overcome the hardships of Lebanon a year ago. After him, the caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who was sure that the doors of the Arab countries and Saudi Arabia would not be opened to him at all.
According to the report, three weeks ago, Saudi Arabia called Saad al-Hariri’s brother “Ayman” and his family “an undesirable element” in his country, confiscated their house and asked them to leave the country. Go to Abu Dhabi. The Saudis took these steps to get the four billion debts of Saad al-Hariri and the Saudi company Ojeh, justifying that this action is part of a judicial process related to the debts of Saad al-Hariri and his brother and has nothing to do with politics. Saad and his brother still have Saudi citizenship. This is not the only problem of Saad Al-Hariri. He also has disputes with his sister, India. India has demanded a $ 80 million stake in Al-Bahr Al-Mutawasat Bank and a Saudi company, and has been given a court order in Paris. Al-Hariri’s private plane will land in any European country if it lands.
Al-Akhbar added that Riyadh is likely to be the first practical test of Najib Mikati’s government, the first to reattach the cut strands and provide reassuring assurances, pledged by the Lebanese internal balance of power played by Hezbollah. it’s difficult. Mikati’s grievances over the “violation of Lebanese sovereignty” over the influx of Iranian oil into Lebanon are just one of the signs that Riyadh is asking the Lebanese government to fulfill its obligations to help Lebanon.
The first negative message was that the Saudi ambassador to Beirut, Waleed al-Bukhari, left the country at the same time as the new Lebanese government was formed. Saudi Arabia said at the time of Saad al-Hariri’s appointment that it would judge the new government based on its composition and the position of Hezbollah in the government, but now ten days have passed since the formation of the Mikati government and Riyadh has not yet spoken. Some of the new ministers have been in contact with their Kuwaiti and Qatari counterparts or the ambassadors of the two countries in Beirut and have promised to help. The ministers do not underestimate the contact from the two rich countries on the Persian Gulf, but expect more from them.
