President Aoun : “I Won’t Walk Away”

In a televised address, Aoun vowed he would bear responsibility and not ‘walk away’. “I will stay committed to the process and hope that everyone thinks well about the designation and [government] formation. I have said my word and I will not walk away,” Aoun was quoted as saying by local media. The president called on MPs to remember their responsibilities to the country and to the Lebanese people, ahead of the parliamentary consultations Thursday to designate a new prime minister. Meanwhile, Aoun directed comments at officials and politicians, blaming them for blocking reforms including a forensic audit of the central bank and an overhaul of the energy sector. The president asked them “where is the electricity plan that has been kept in the drawers since 2010?” And “where is the rescue initiative to solve the economic crisis to save Lebanon from the repercussions of the tragic Beirut Port blast?” “The silence of any official, and lack of cooperation in the forensic audit [of the Central Bank], prove he is a partner in corruption and waste,” he said, stopping short of naming any official. Source: Lebanese media