BEIRUT (Ruptly) — The latest attempt to form a cabinet in Lebanon failed after Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said he rejected the government line-up offered by President Michael Aoun, speaking at the Baabda presidential palace on Monday.

Hariri said that Aoun’s proposal would give his allies one third of the cabinet posts and thus the veto power.

Lebanon has been under pressure to form the government due to deteriorating economy since the last cabinet of Hassan Diab resigned last year in the wake of the Beirut port explosions.

Hariri said:

I will tell you what I have told him [Aoun] today. First, it is unacceptable because the premier-designate is not supposed to fill in papers for anyone and it is not the work of the President to form the government. Second, Our Constitution clearly says the premier-designate forms the government and proposes names, then discusses them with his Excellency the President. On this basis, I respectfully told his Excellency the President that I consider his message as if it has never existed, and sent it back to him. I also informed him that I will keep a copy of it for the records.

[…]

I also told him that he received my proposal for government formation 100 days ago, and I am ready now, as we have publicly stated before, to make any suggestions and modifications on the names and ministries. Even though he insisted to personally appoint the Minister of Interior, I made it easier for him. Unfortunately, his answer was clear: the blocking third [veto power].

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The press office of Saad Hariri then distributed a draft cabinet line-up that President Michel Aoun had reportedly rejected on December 9.