Global Policy Forum

By Leila Hatoum

Lebanese Prime Minister, Omar Karami, declared his cabinet's resignation on Monday evening.

The government's resignation caused heavy argument between Karami, and Speaker Nabih Berri, because he was not notified in advance. The Lebanese Parliament had held an urgent ‘vote of confidence' session on Monday, where some 50 MPs out of the 114 MPs attending the session demanded the right to address the parliament.

Most of the opposition MPs lashed out at the government and withheld their confidence in an attempt to topple it. After a two hours recess, Karami came back with the sudden decision of his cabinet's resignation.

Karami said, "I am keen that the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country. I declare the resignation of the government that I had the honor to head."

Opposition-led demonstrators, estimated by tens of thousands, celebrated the government's resignation, few meters away from the Parliament's Square, where they had been gathering since Sunday night.

The outgoing government will continue its works until a new cabinet is formed.

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