Two candidates are now running for the post of Lebanese Premier - the incumbent Premier Saad Hariri and Najib Azmi Mikati, a Hezbollah representative, who was Lebanese Premier 15 April 2005 to 19 July 2005. The Armenian community in Lebanon prefers Saad Hariri, Sebouh Kalpakian, a Lebanese MP and Vice-Chairman of the Central Office, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (SDHP), told Armenian News-NEWS.am. According to him, during the meetings in Parliament, which will last until January 25, the MPs will introduce to the {resident two most likely candidates for the Prime Minister. The one that will get a majority of votes will be appointed Prime Minister.

The MPs hold private or group consultations with the President. After being appointed, the Premier will hold consultations with the parliamentary faction and form a cabinet, Kalpakian said.

As to which of the candidates the Armenian community prefers, he said that two of the Armenian MPs, members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D), are supportive of Najib Azmi Mikati. "We, the four SDHP members, will vote for Saad Hariri, as he is our ally. Even if Hariri loses the elections, we will have to vote for him. Hezbollah is sure of its victory and is not afraid of anything," Kalpakian said.

Despite an atmosphere of fear and expectations in Lebanon, he considers any clashes unlikely.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reminds readers that the ARF-D member Abraham Dedeyan, Minister of Industry, is among the Lebanese Government members that resigned on December 12, 2010.

Under the Lebanese Constitution, the Government is to be dissolved if a third of its members resigns.