Miqati’s Cabinet Might Not See Light before Hariri’s Murder Anniversary

Premier-designate Najib Miqati might not form his government before the 6th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, media reports said Monday.

Political circles following up the contacts on cabinet formation ruled out in remarks to An Nahar daily a final government line-up before mid February.

They said two major events could prevent Miqati from forming the cabinet as soon as possible – an Appeals Chamber hearing on Feb. 7 at the international tribunal’s seat at The Hague and the anniversary of Hariri’s Feb. 14 murder.

As Safir daily wondered whether the billionaire businessman would have a cabinet line-up ready before Feb. 14, a day that ex-Premier Saad Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal movement is seeking to invest to make a “show of force.”

However, a March 8 source said that Miqati is giving some groups in the March 14 coalition until Tuesday to decide on whether to join the new government.

“Miqati is hoping to announce the formation of his government Thursday so that he can go to Tripoli as prime minister Friday to attend the prayers there,” the source told The Daily Star.

The premier-designate’s sources told As Safir that reports about the line-up and potential ministers were not accurate. Furthermore, it is not yet clear whether there would be a 24 or 30-member cabinet, they said.

If the March 14 forces refuse to participate in the government, Miqati has the other option of forming a mixed government of politicians and technocrats, As Safir said.