BEIRUT: Lebanese-nominated Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who has been tasked with forming a new Lebanese government at the end of his non-binding parliamentary consultations on Tuesday, said he “went on MPs’ opinion and we will take most of it”. He considered what he said, but what matters is that the national interest prevails.”
Mikati said the opinions shared by lawmakers “are in the national interest, albeit from different angles.”
He hoped to be able to form a government that “can perform its duty and continue what the previous government has started, especially with the IMF, the power plan and the file of the maritime boundary demarcation”, hoping is that things will “take shape” in a reasonable way. ,
If Mikati succeeds in forming this government, it will be his second government under President Michel Aoun; If not, he will remain the designated prime minister as caretaker.
On the second day of the consultation, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Gebran Basil, issued a vague position.
Basil confirmed that “Bloc has no interest in participating in the new government, but we have not yet met as a Bloc to confirm the matter.”
He opposed Mikati and was not named by the FPM in government formation.
He said: “We asked Mikati why we do not agree with the formation of the government. There is a real problem with the credibility of the designation and we took up the issue with him, but we have overcome this problem given the situation in the country.” took.
Basil said the movement is “against any government taking away its powers, and we emphasized that it is important for the government to deal with important files, including the central bank governorship’s file.”
At the same time, Basil denied that he had “made a bet before the demand or Mikati.”
He said that “amending the current government is a wrong bet,” adding: “We are against the presidential distinction and we will prevent this from happening.”
Basil’s statement was noteworthy, especially when he said that “Mikati’s post lacks credibility” but decided to turn a blind eye to the situation in the country.
The Free Patriotic Movement bloc and the Lebanese Forces bloc did not propose Mikati to form a government during a binding parliamentary consultation held by President Aun last week.
However, a source close to Mikati pointed out that the two Christian parties do not fully represent all Christians and that some MPs with popular representation have nominated Mikati.
The source added that “FPM is insisting on forming an efficient government, which does not take away its powers for the purpose of implementing the political agenda, as the President’s bloc wants people associated with the party to be appointed to important positions for the tenure of the party. , which includes appointing a new governor for the central bank.”
Kataab Party chief Sammy Gamayel warned against the “danger of adopting a non-official argument before the presidential election”.
He believes that “wasting time in these dangerous conditions that the country is fatal to Lebanon who are suffering at all levels.”
Gemayel “emphasized the need to form an independent government as soon as possible to prevent the collapse.”
After the meeting with Mikati, MP Osama Saad said that “Lebanon needs a government that can move the country from the current political reality to a new reality capable of safely meeting the challenges and crises.”
He added: “Presidential elections are imminent. Can we elect a new president who is independent of the internal and external axes? Are the internal blocks that govern the state’s decision-making ready to carry out the rescue project?
MP Jihad al-Samad ruled out the possibility of forming a new government “because it is difficult to form a government with ongoing gluttony and selfishness.”
He said he demanded that “the current government be energized, either by convincing Parliament to revive it, or by expanding the concept of caretaker.”
MP Bilal Hoshaymi said that the decision not to join the government is wrong. The previous government implemented some reforms which should be completed and all the blocks should cooperate to form the government. People trust Parliament and we should try to get out of the axis of hell.
The Armenian parliamentarians’ bloc expressed their interest in participating in the government. MP Hagop Pakardounian said: “A new government should be formed as soon as possible and we must avoid a game of conditions and counter-conditions. We expect the Mikati to have an official lineup in the coming few days.
Charles Jabor, the head of the Lebanese Army’s Department of Media and Communications, ruled out the formation of a new government “because the formation of governments in Lebanon usually takes at least two to three months, noting that the new government, if is constituted, it will be four months to be able to play its role.”
Regarding the position of Lebanese forces political rival MP Gebran Basil, Jabbor told Arab News: “The alleged situation is different from the implied one. Basil has previously said that capable governments are over and a political government is needed. He Denied that the caretaker government lasts until the end of the term as the FPM holds onto appointments that are in its best interest and wants to be part of the government in case of a presidential hiatus.
Mikati is now working on a draft government that is expected to be submitted to the president so that they can both sign the decree forming it. The current ongoing prevention of its formation is being caused by parliamentary blocs representing important political forces that have decided not to participate in government.
Some people expect this to change. Charles Jabber said that “Blocs that did not nominate Mikati to form government and would not participate in government would certainly not give confidence in Parliament.”
He added that the matter may depend on the minister’s statement but “I think there will be difficulty in facing the formation of the new government.”