Report: ‘Political Settlement’ between Aoun, Hariri ‘Unbroken’

The relations between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri “are not broken” and the political pact between the two men that brought Aoun to the presidency post remains “intact,” al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Thursday.

Talks have gathered momentum between Baabda Palace and the Center House, and sources have “assured” that “some constructive meetings will take place in the next 48 hours” in order to facilitate the stalemates hampering the formation of the government since the designation, the daily said.

Meanwhile, it added that visitors to Aoun “emanated positive vibes,” as they undermined claims that the delay was the result of an early campaign for the post of presidency, in light of media claims that Aoun’s son-in-law, Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has his eye on the position in the future.

They also reflected the President’s willingness to open channels of communication to facilitate the formation process.

Denying a break in relations between the two men, the visitors told the daily that “contacts between Baabda and the Center House are not broken. The political pact between them remains intact.”

Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24. His mission is being hampered by political wrangling over shares, especially over Christian and Druze representation.

In 2016, a political settlement led to the election of Gen. Aoun as president and brought Hariri back to the premiership is still intact.