Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun began parliamentary consultations on Monday to designate a prime minister tasked with forming a government capable of addressing the nation’s deepening crises.

The post of prime minister, reserved for a Sunni Muslim under Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, has two prominent contenders: current caretaker premier Najib Mikati and Nawaf Salam, President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

A source close to Hezbollah told AFP that both Hezbollah and Speaker Nabih Berri’s Amal Movement support Mikati’s candidacy. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed Mikati’s re-designation is part of an agreement brokered with Saudi Arabia, which had facilitated Hezbollah and Amal’s backing of Aoun’s presidential bid.

Mikati, one of Lebanon’s wealthiest individuals, has formed three previous governments.

The Lawmakers' Choices

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, following his meeting with President Aoun, announced that he would not nominate anyone for the premiership, voicing concerns over the potential deep divisions in the selection of a prime minister.

“We had hoped that the consensus achieved in the presidential election would extend to the formation of the government. But deep divisions and one side prevailing over another in this process will not facilitate a smooth start to this new era and could lead to another crisis.”

MP Jamil Al-Sayyed also refrained from making a decision after his meeting with the president, highlighting the difficult choice between Mikati and Salam.

“If the votes are evenly split between Nawaf Salam and Najib Mikati, my vote will go to Mikati. If they are not equal, I will vote for no one,” Al-Sayyed stated, commending Mikati for steering Lebanon through its most challenging crises and maintaining stability during the prolonged presidential vacuum.

MP Adib Abdel Massih nominated Judge Nawaf Salam for the premiership.

“We elected General Joseph Aoun because he is sovereign, rescue-oriented, and reformist. Therefore, it is natural that when we choose the prime minister, we will select someone who is sovereign, rescue-oriented, and reformist,” he said.

MP Jean Talouzian nominated Najib Mikati, hoping for the swift formation of a government that reflects the spirit of President Joseph Aoun's inaugural speech.

MP Abd al-Rahman al-Bizri named Najib Mikati to form the upcoming government.

MP Osama Saad nominated Judge Nawaf Salam, stating that major transformations require national and inclusive solutions.

MP Jihad al-Samad nominated Najib Mikati, praising him for preserving the continuity of Lebanese legitimacy.

As for MP Michel Daher, he chose to nominate Judge Nawaf Salam to form the government, stating he would support any prime minister who works to rescue the country.

MP Bilal Al-Hushaimi, for his part, nominated Najib Mikati for another term, thanking him for his efforts in leading the government amid the presidential vacuum period.

MP Abdel Karim Kabbara nominated Najib Mikati for the position of Prime Minister, stating that the latter has "proven his ability to manage Lebanon well and enjoys good relations domestically,  while his foreign relations are well-suited for this phase."

MP Charbel Massaad nominated Nawaf Salam for the position of Prime Minister. hailing the latter's "honorable career."

MP Ghassan Skaff nominated Najib Mikati, saying that this choice goes in line with the internal, Arab, and international atmosphere that led to President Aoun’s election.

MP Haidar Nasser nominated Najib Mikati, asserting that this would serve the public interest and help prevent political divisions. 

MP Paula Yacoubian nominated Judge Nawaf Salam for the position of Prime Minister, calling on citizens to "pressure their MPs" to endorse the latter.

"Do the nominations we are hearing reflect the spirit of the president's inaugural speech?" she asked, clearly referring to lawmakers nominating the incumbent PM, Najib Mikati.

MP Ibrahim Mneimneh nominated Judge Nawaf Salam after withdrawing from the race to ensure broad support for him. 

"This is a foundational and transitional phase, shifting from the old way of governance to a new one that the Lebanese people hope for. The phase of destruction, collapse, and division must come to an end, and the state is our last refuge," he said. "We have full confidence in Salam's ability to carry out the goals we aspire to. This is an opportunity that should not be wasted."

MP Cynthia Zarazir also nominated Judge Nawaf Salam, stating that the goals outlined in President Joseph Aoun's inaugural speech require a reliable partner in the government.

MP Melhem Khalaf nominated Judge Nawaf Salam in line with the change that the country is witnessing, stressing the need for a prime minister from outside the ruling class to join President Joseph Aoun who came to office from outside the current political establishment. 

Moreover, MPs Halima Kaakour, Elias Jaradeh and Firas Hamdan also nominated Judge Nawaf Salam. 

The second and final round of mandatory parliamentary consultations initiated by President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, to designate the prime minister tasked with forming the government, began with a meeting with MP Yassin Yassin.

MP Yassin Yassin nominated Salam, saying that the new premier must possess qualities required for this phase.  

For his part, MP George Bouchikian named Najib Mikati for the premiership, saying that he is aware of what the latter has endured and what he can offer Lebanon in terms of contributions and sacrifices during this new phase. 

MP Michel Murr also nominated Mikati, citing the circumstances the country has gone through and the transitional phase Lebanon is entering.

MP Camille Chamoun nominated Judge Nawaf Salam, stressing that Lebanon has a golden opportunity to rebuild the be rebuilt with a strong president and a government free of corruption. 

The Lebanese Forces Bloc named Salam for the prime minister role.  

"What is required of the new premier is, first and foremost, the implementation of the president's inaugural speech. We will insist that the government's policy statement reflects the principles articulated in the speech: no weapons outside the state's control, no corruption, judicial independence, and the recovery of depositors’ funds," MP George Adwan said as he spoke on behalf of the bloc. 

The Free Patriotic Movement Bloc, led by MP Gebran Bassil, nominated Salam, praising the latter as a reformist figure.

"Once the results of the presidential election were announced, we congratulated President Joseph Aoun, and today we informed him that our natural position is to support the presidency. This is the obvious position of the Free Patriotic Movement, as we saw in the president's inaugural speech a reflection of what we desire to implement," Bassil said. 

The Democratic Gathering Bloc, led by MP Taymour Jumblat, nominated Judge Nawaf Salam to form the government, hoping that the formation process would be swift.

The National Moderation Bloc, consisting of six lawmakers, also nominated Salam for the prime minister role. 

The Independent Consultative Gathering, which includes MPs Ibrahim Kanaan, Alain Aoun, and Simon Abi Ramia, nominated Ambassador Nawaf Salam for the position of prime minister.

The National Consensus Bloc, which includes MPs Faysal Karami, Adnan Trabulsi, Taha Naji, Mohammad Yahya, and Hassan Murad, nominated Nawaf Salam for prime minister.

The Independent National Bloc, which includes MPs Tony Frangieh, Farid Haykal Al-Khazen, and Melhem Tawk, refrained from naming anyone for the prime minister position. 

The Change Alliance Bloc, which includes MPs Waddah Sadeq, Michel Doueihy, and Mark Daou, nominated Judge Nawaf Salam for the position of Prime Minister. 

The Armenian MPs Bloc, which includes MPs Hagop Pakradounian and Hagop Terzian, also nominated Judge Nawaf Salam for Prime Minister.

The Renewal Bloc, which includes MPs Michel Moawad, Ashraf Rifi, and Fouad Makhzoumi, nominated Judge Nawaf Salam.

MPs Naamat Frem, Nabil Bader and Jamil Abboud also nominated Salam. 

The Jamaa Islamiya MP Imad Hout nominated Salam. 

Hezbollah's Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc did not nominate anyone for the position, condemning attempts to sow discord.

"Once again, some are deliberately and maliciously attempting to dismantle, divide, cancel, and exclude," MP Mohammad Raad said. "Our meeting with the President was to express our regret over efforts to tarnish the consensual atmosphere seen during the presidential election."

"It is our right to demand a constitutional government. Any government that undermines coexistence lacks legitimacy," Raad warned. "We will monitor developments and proceed with calm and wisdom. We will assess their actions to expel the occupier from our land, recover the prisoners, rebuild the devastated areas, and properly implement Resolution 1701 to preserve national unity."

Likewise, the Development and Liberation Bloc, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also chose not to nominate anyone for the prime minister role.