He told the An-Nahar daily that the priority is to form a cabinet instead of resignation.

Resigning is an option, he added, and not to escape from responsibilities, but to support, if this way there is a consensus on the establishment of an executive that can rescue the nation from collapse.

Hariri thus implied that he postponed his decision to step down from office due to disagreements with President Michel Aoun over forming a government.

Both disagree with the distribution of posts in the future ministries, especially with the selection of ministries for Christians.

In December, Hariri presented a draft proposal to form the executive composed of 18 portfolios and made up of specialists not belonging to the political parties, which Aoun considered unrealistic.

As an alternative, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri promoted an initiative that envisages 24 ministries and an equal distribution between Christians, Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

However, this proposal is not making progress because, in the opinion of religious and political figures, Muslims would be a majority.

jg/aph/mem/arc