Aoun meets Mikati over cabinet line-up
President Michel Aoun discussed Friday with Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati the Cabinet draft line-up that the latter had submitted to the President on Wednesday, the Presidency said.
The line-up, handwritten by Mikati, was leaked on the same day. Both parties denied they have leaked it, in separate statements.
"Some ideas and suggestions have been discussed during the meeting," the Presidency said, adding that Aoun will meet Mikati again at the beginning of next week to resume the talks over the Cabinet line-up.
As Mikati left the Baabda palace without making any statement, media reports said he had blamed Aoun for the leaked document and that some minor amendments have been made to the line-up.
Al-Jadeed said that Aoun, during the meeting, proposed to Mikati the idea of expanding the government from 24 to 30 ministers, including political members and ministers of state.
It added that the two leaders discussed in the meeting the structure of the government rather than the names of the ministers.