Bassil: Aoun might withdraw premiership designation from Mikati

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has anew accused Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati of obstructing the government formation.

In a press interview published on Tuesday, Bassil said that Mikati wants to give the caretaker government presidential powers.

"He intentionally submitted a line-up that he knows the President will refuse," Bassil added, as he threatened of starting a major confrontation to prevent giving the caretaker cabinet the powers of the president.

Bassil suggested three options to avoid that. One of them is that President Michel Aoun would stay in his post, if a new government is not formed, which Bassil said he does not support. The other two options are withdrawing the designation from Mikati or considering forming "another" government.

Bassil also blamed the Shiite Duo for naming Mikati and said that the FPM is discussing with Hezbollah the presidential elections and that no names have been proposed yet.

He added that the FPM is ready to agree on a president and support him in order to prevent the vacuum, but that it will not accept a "confrontational" candidate that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea had called for and that "this will never happen."

"The next President must be representative or supported by parties who enjoy popular representation," Bassil said. "But we will not accept a president who will be imposed on us."

He added that he does not support electing al-Marada chief Suleiman Franjieh, although he has nothing personal against him.

Bassil went on to say that France is suggesting candidates, refusing international intervention, whether from France, the U.S. or Iran.