Report: Govt. formation not deadlocked as Ibrahim, Hezbollah continue mediation

The government formation efforts are not deadlocked and mediators are seeking a solution for the complications, al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted “credible political sources” as saying.

“General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim is carrying out contacts with some sides, while Hezbollah is seeking to ease the stance of Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil. Accordingly, things are not deadlocked until now and might lead to a breakthrough at any moment,” the sources added.

“The mediators do not rule out the possibility of the formation of a government within a few days, but they have set a timeframe for the success of their mission that ends on October 15 at the latest,” the sources said.

“What’s being worked on is a government format based on the format (initially) presented by PM-designate Najib Mikati that changes a number of ministers and not most of the Christian ministers as requested by MP Jebran Bassil,” the sources added, noting that not more than five ministers will be changed.

The contacts with Mikati have convinced him to accept that Aoun name the Sunni minister in agreement with Akkar’s MPs and the Druze minister in agreement with Lebanese Democratic Party chief Talal Arslan as well as two Christian ministers, the sources said.

The sources added that such a format is the best possible one and that the government might be formed before the end of this week should there be good intentions and an end to political bickering.