Lebanon elections: UN chief calls on crisis-hit country to form 'inclusive government'

Lebanon elections: UN chief calls on crisis-hit country to form 'inclusive government'
UN chief Antonio Guterres urged Lebanon to form an 'inclusive government' following its elections over the weekend. He said the new administration must implement 'necessary' reforms to put the country on the path to recovery.
1 min read
Guterres called on the new parliament 'to urgently adopt all legislation necessary to stabilise the economy and improve governance' [source: Getty]

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Lebanon to form an "inclusive government" to tackle the country's economic crisis after elections were held over the weekend, his office said on Monday.

Guterres "looks forward to the swift formation of an inclusive government that can finalise the agreement with the International Monetary Fund and accelerate the implementation of reforms necessary to set Lebanon on the path to recovery," his office said in a statement.

The UN chief also called on the country's new parliament "to urgently adopt all legislation necessary to stabilise the economy and improve governance".

MENA
Live Story

He stressed the need for Lebanon's "political leaders to work jointly with the best interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese people in mind."

Lebanon's largest parliamentary bloc, led by the powerful pro-Iranian Hezbollah armed movement, appeared to have suffered a setback against the opposition and independents, according to partial results released on Monday.

Turnout was particularly low in Sunni-dominated areas mostly inhabited by Sunnis - one of the main communities in the country governed by a political system based on communal power-sharing.