Designate Prime Minister meets representatives of parliamentary blocs
- PM designate Hassan Diab held meetings With House Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri and representatives of parliamentary blocs as consultations for government formation begin.
- The Lebanese Forces, the Future Movement, and the Progressive Socialist Party said they will not be participating in the new cabinet.
- Amal Movement asked for a cabinet that includes representatives of the protest ‘movement’, while Hezbollah MPs denounced the allegations that Diab’s cabinet is confrontational. Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement wished for the government to not belong to any party, saying it is not Hezbollah’s government.
- Diab promised a cabinet made up of experts and politicians, within 4 to 6 weeks.
Hale meets jumblatt, Geagea, Bassil
- US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale continued his visits to Lebanese political leaders, meeting with Progressive Socialist Party leader, Walid Jumblatt, Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, and Free Patriotic Movement leader, Gebran Bassil.
- Bassil described the meeting which lasted for two hours as “extremely positive”. LBCI said that the case of Amer Fakhoury was brought up between the two.
- Geagea, after meeting Hale, said his party will not be in the new cabinet. Jumblatt tweeted that the meeting with Hale was “friendly and honest”.
Protesters demonstrate against Hassan Diab
- Hundreds of protesters, including supporters of the Future Movement, took to the streets for the third day in a row to protest the designation of Hassan Diab for Prime Minister.
- Hundreds demonstrated in Corniche el Mazraa in Beirut, while others blocked roads in Verdun. In Tripoli, the army deployed and erected checkpoints to check IDs of people on motorbikes.
Day 66: The revolution continues
- On the 66th day, in Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon, protesters gathered in front of Electricité du Liban under the slogan of “We won’t pay”. The Beirut protesters then marched to Martyrs’ Square, where they demonstrated around a Christmas tree as a band performed. Protesters gathered at the Beirut Port to protest corruption at customs.
- Meanwhile, protesters in Tripoli and Nabatiye continued demonstrating, and in Hasbaya protesters raised the iconic fist of the revolution.
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