Lebanese President Michel Aoun has informed Saad Hariri to form a new government, appointing him as the country's next prime minister, according to a televised statement from Aoun's office.

Hariri was put forward for the job by 111 of 128 members of Lebanon’s parliament in consultations with Aoun held on Thursday.

It will be the third term for Hariri, who has held the position since December 2016 and was also prime minister between 2009 and 2011.

In parliamentary elections held on May 6, Hariri's Future Movement lost more than one-third of its power but remains the biggest Sunni-led party with 20 seats.

Hezbollah and its allies made the most significant gains by winning 70 seats.

Nabih Berriparliament speaker, said consultations on forming a new national unity government will take place on Monday, news agency Reuters reported.