Khalil Says No 'Serious' Govt. Formation Efforts, Vows to Sign Consul Decrees

Caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil lamented Tuesday the absence of “serious efforts” to form a new government.

“We have not witnessed serious efforts in the cabinet formation process until the moment,” Khalil decried.

Separately, the minister promised to sign decrees appointing new consuls that have been referred to him from the Foreign Ministry.

“The previous decrees should also be sent for signing, in line with the agreement,” he added.

He also denied as “totally baseless” reports claiming that “the signing of these decrees is linked to the decrees of those who passed the Civil Service Council tests.”

Media reports say caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil had recently appointed honorary consuls without asking Khalil to sign the decree.

Bassil and Khalil had recently clashed over a decree promoting a number of army officers.