Miqati Tackles Possibility of Reviving Caretaker Cabinet with Various Sides

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati is discussing the possibility of reviving the work of his caretaker cabinet with several figures to end the political standstill in the country.

Informed sources told As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday that Miqati informed President Michel Suleiman that the current situation became “unbearable,” during a meeting held at the Baabda Palace recently.

According to the sources, Miqati told Suleiman that “he is being criticized by all sides as several urgent matters require the cabinet to convene.”

The newspaper said that the caretaker PM proposed that the President chairs a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace or “he would head it at the Grand Serail to avoid embarrassing the president by discussing issues from outside the narrow articles on the agenda's session.”

However, the sources said that Suleiman didn't give Miqati an answer, making him believe that the President doesn't mind “refloating” the caretaker cabinet.

Miqati discussed reviving the work of the caretaker cabinet with head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora, who didn't reject the idea but demanded more time to tackle the suggestion with his allies.

The caretaker premier tackled the matter with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's representative Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who informed Miqati that the matter is delicate and demands thorough discussions.

Speaker Nabih Berri's adviser, MP Ali Hasan Khalil, discussed the issue with Miqati.

The newspaper reported that Miqati asked for an “urgent meeting” with Berri to address the matter, however, they agreed to discuss it after Miqati return from South Africa, where he is attending the Funeral of later ex-President Nelson Mandela.

The proposal to revive the work of Miqati's caretaker cabinet came to light after PM-designate Tammam Salam failed to form a new cabinet due to conditions and counter-conditions set by the rival parties.

However, al-Mustaqbal bloc called after its weekly meeting for the swift formation of a new cabinet.

“The caretaker cabinet cannot be refloated, according to the constitution,” the bloc said.

Hizbullah and AMAL movement support the move, however, the Free Patriotic Movement says that a cabinet session should be held to discuss “pressing matters.”

For his part, Suleiman is calling for the formation of a new cabinet to oversee the election of next President.

His tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of Suleiman’s mandate.