Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil announced Tuesday that the FPM’s participation in the new government would depend on its line-up and program, as he called for a “comprehensive or partial rotation of ministerial portfolios.”

“We wished the PM-designate success and stressed to him that we want a speedy government formation,” Bassil said after meeting PM-designate Najib Mikati along with the Strong Lebanon bloc, as part of the non-binding consultations to form a new government.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on Tuesday hoped that the “national interest” will “triumph over everything,” following the two-day, non-binding consultations that he held with MPs over the shape and program of the government that he intends to form.

“I listened to the MPs and explored their opinions and we’ll take a large part of what they said into consideration,” Mikati said at a brief press conference that followed the consultations.

The Kataeb parliamentary bloc on Monday called on PM-designate Najib Mikati to “submit his government line-up within two weeks,” as MP Tony Franjieh of the Independent National bloc called on the Free Patriotic Movement to allow another party to be in charge of the energy ministerial portfolio.

“Waiting would be a collective crime committed by the political parties against the people… and the PM-designate must submit his government line-up within two weeks,” Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel said after meeting Mikati during the non-binding consultations.

The Progressive Socialist Party-led Democratic Gathering bloc announced Monday that it “will not take part” in the new government but will rather “help in forming” it.

The Lebanese Forces-led Strong Republic bloc announced Monday that it will not take part in the new government that the PM-designate Najib Mikati intends to form.

Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab said Monday that the new government “can consist of specialists,” but that “they should be named by politicians.”

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil stressed Monday that the forensic audit into the central bank’s accounts “will not die.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati kicked off Monday his non-binding consultations with the parliamentary blocs over the shape of the new government.

Mikati began the two-day consultations by meeting Speaker Nabih Berri in parliament. He later met with Berri's Development and Liberation bloc.

Israel on Sunday approved housing allowances for South Lebanon Army (SLA) veterans residing in Israeli territory, providing so-called "historic justice" to former members of the militia, officials said.

The decision, passed by the government, would see some 400 former SLA fighters who did not hold commanding ranks receiving a one-off grant of 550,000 shekels (around $161,000) towards buying a home over the next four years, the Israeli army said in a statement.

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, on Sunday called for forming “a government that can be feasibly formed at the moment” to enable the country to confront its multiple challenges.