Lebanon president holds consultations for new PM

Lebanese President Michel Aoun began crucial consultations with lawmakers on Thursday to name a new prime minister. process was widely expected to bring back an old name, former premier Sa Hariri, to le country out of its dire political and ecomic crises.Hariri, however, is likely to secure only slim support among members of parliament, amid sharp political divisions over shape of cabinet to be formed.

Hariri resigned from post a year ago amid nationwide protests by a public angered by widespre corruption, mismanment of resources and a flunking ecomy.In year since, Leban's currency sank, losing nearly 80% of its value, while prices, unemployment and inflation soared.

Lebanese have been unable to access ir savings, as banks imposed informal capital controls fearing a run on deposits.A gigantic explosion in August in Beirut's port, caused by thousands of explosive chemicals stored in a warehouse re, compounded crises. blast defaced capital, killing nearly 200 people, and injured over 6,000.

explosion was seen as furr proof of an incompetent political class in charge of governing small country since end of its 15-year civil war in 1990. explosion forced Hariri's successor, Hassan Diab, to resign days later — ushering in a new period of political instability.

explosion also prompted France, a longtime ally, to push for a new political order in Leban, launching what came to be kwn as French initiative. initiative is designed to pressure rival politicians to reach an agreement on a government empowered to introduce wide-ranging ecomic reforms.

international community has said it will t help Leban financially before reforms are implemented.But Leban's complex sectarian-based political system makes reaching major decisions a significant challenge.Power, including government posts, is distributed among country's Shiites, Sunnis and Christians who often get bogged down in horse tring because of fears of losing ir calibrated clout.

(Im Credit: AP) 

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