The President of the Council of Ministers Saad Hariri said that "the parliamentary elections will take place on time in May and will be crucial for all political parties and for our democracy, diversity and way of life. The most important is to continue our democracy-based approach, which adds to Lebanon's charm and makes it a small miracle in an environment full of fighting."

Hariri was addressing yesterday evening at the "Center House" the association of Beirut mayors. He said: "We managed to avoid the fires around us because all the political parties, in addition to the army and the security forces, carried out their responsibilities to the fullest, and we were able to combat extremism. However, the basis of stability was not only in the fight against extremism, but because we, as Lebanese, took a decision not to return to the past and always look towards the future."

He added: "The cabinet approved last week one of the most important projects that concern Lebanon, which is related to oil and gas, about which the Lebanese have been hearing for decades. In this government and because of this consensus and cooperation, we have been able to sign agreements with the most important consortium of oil companies in the world. This is the beginning, with two out of ten blocks being allocated, which means that there will be new tenders in the future, and if oil is found we will become an oil state

Source: NNA