Mikati: I Pledge to Solve the Fuel and Electricity Crisis

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The Lebanese government held its first meeting today, Monday, in the presence of President Michel Aoun, after announcing its formation last week.

During the meeting, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati pledged to work on solving the fuel, electricity, and medicine crisis in a way that stops the "humiliation of people." 

He added that the new government will be in the service of all of Lebanon and for all Lebanese, expressing that it will not discriminate between those who declared their support for it and those who have not.

At the beginning of the cabinet session, Mikati said that a lot of work awaits the new government and that all parties will have to sacrifice, noting that Lebanon requires exceptional measures and efforts.

In the same context, President Michel Aoun expressed his hope that the ministerial statement of the new government would include the completion of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and a follow-up on the implementation of the financing subsidy cards.

Aoun and Mikati signed the decree to form the new government on September 10 in the presence of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri after 13 months of government vacuum.

The new government includes 24 ministers headed by Mikati and Saadeh al-Shami as Vice President.

After announcing the birth of the government, Mikati said that the government will take care of ensuring the needs of the Lebanese and the simplest matters of life, declaring that it will knock on the doors of the Arab world and will restore what has been cut off.