![Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri makes a speech during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon on 9 December 2020 [Lebanese Presidency/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/20201209_2_45775540_60478179.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Al-Hariri said today after meeting with President Michel Aoun that the priority was to form a government to halt the country’s financial collapse and re-start talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The main priority of any government is to prevent the collapse that we are facing today … that we proceed to start halting the collapse with the IMF and regain the trust of the international community,” he said at a news conference.
Today’s meeting took place after Aoun told Hariri last night to form a new government immediately or make way for someone else. Hariri had hit back by telling Aoun that if he could not approve his cabinet line-up, then the president should call early elections.
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