New Government in Upcoming Days … Naji al-Boustani Settled Dispute between Suleiman and Aoun

The government formation process will witness intensified efforts next week aimed at addressing the demands of the concerned sides, according to informed sources.

Newspaper reports said that the dispute over the interior ministry portfolio has been settled in former minister Naji al-Boustani’s favor, who received congratulations on this matter from Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun during their meeting on Thursday.

The reports said that Boustani enjoys the approval and trust of all sides, and therefore suggesting him as a minister stands as a settlement of a dispute over the interior ministry portfolio that reportedly erupted between President Michel Suleiman and Aoun.

The sources told the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in reports published on Saturday that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqtai has agreed to grant a portfolio to Faisal Karami, the son of former PM Omar Karami, based on Hizbullah’s insistence aimed at eliminating other obstacles in the government formation process.

Miqati is also expected to hold talks with Aoun next week.

On Friday, Miqati held talks with President Suleiman on the government formation process at the Baabda Palace.

He left the meeting without making a statement, but was later reported as saying that the meeting was “good.”

Meanwhile, caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil ruled out the possibility that the government will be formed soon as the premier-designate “has not spoken to us about the distribution of portfolios or the names of potential ministers.”