Report: Parties Convince Miqati to Postpone Resignation

The government formation process suffered a setback in recent days due to President Michel Aoun’s keenness on having “a blocking one-third” and catering to the “ambitions of Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil,” informed sources have said.

“Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s declaration that the arrival of Iranian oil was imminent increased the government formation complications… because the U.S. Caesar Act would be ready to besiege Lebanon, which does not tempt anyone to form a government in such a situation,” the sources told the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper in remarks published Friday.

The sources added that “Miqati was inclined to declare his resignation prior to his 12th meeting with President (Michel) Aoun yesterday, but some sides convinced him to postpone that until after today’s parliament session.”

“Miqati was preparing to visit President Aoun on Wednesday to finalize the cabinet line-up, but amendments carried to him by Presidential Palace Director General Antoine Choucair suggested that President Aoun and his presidential team were seeking to obtain 10 ministers, not seven as they should, which prompted Miqati to realize that this camp is still seeking to get a blocking one-third,” the sources went on to say.