Hariri to visit Cyprus after government formed in Lebanon

President Nicos Anastasiades spoke Friday on the phone with Lebanon's Saad Hariri, to offer support for his re-election as Lebanese Prime Minister.

Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou wrote on twitter that President Anastasiades also welcomed Hariri’s intention to pay a visit to Cyprus after the formation of the new government in Lebanon.

Hariri also expressed his condolences to President Anastasiades on the passing of his mother eaerlier this week.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has nominated Hariri to head up the country’s next government following parliamentary polls conducted last weekend.

Earlier this week, Hariri said that the Taif Accord (which ended Lebanon’s civil war in 1990 and defined the country's current Sectarian system of governance) did not stipulate that the finance portfolio be given to a Shia -- something Berri had demanded earlier.

Berri, the leader of Lebanon’s Shia Amal movement, went on to warn that formation of the incoming government could be postponed due to “complications”. He did not elaborate.

Sunday’s election -- Lebanon's first parliamentary poll in nine years -- saw an unusually low turnout of 49.2 percent.

The election saw 917 candidates from a multiplicity of parties vie for seats in Lebanon’s national assembly, half of which -- under the terms of the Taif Accord -- are reserved for Muslims and half for Christians.

The vote was held under a new proportional list system, which divides the country into 15 electoral constituencies.

According to Lebanon’s constitution, the new parliament will be responsible for electing a president and prime minister.

Lebanon PM @saadhariri expressed his condolences to President @AnastasiadesCY upon the passing of his mother. @AnastasiadesCY wished for the reelection of @saadhariri as PM and welcomed his intention to visit Cyprus following the establishment of the government in Lebanon pic.twitter.com/0RGgbFROwp

— Prodromos Prodromou (@pprodromou) 11 May 2018