Mikati calls for caretaker cabinet session on Wednesday

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called Monday for a cabinet session on Wednesday morning.

The Free Patriotic Movement had repeatedly warned against holding any caretaker cabinet session during presidential vacuum, arguing that any decree issued would require the signatures of all ministers.

The Movement’s ministers boycotted a session held on December 5 and described its resolutions as unconstitutional.

Last week, Mikati reportedly met with Speaker Nabih Berri’s political aide, Ali Hassan Khalil, and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s aide, Hussein al-Khalil.

Berri had many times voiced support for a caretaker Cabinet meeting.

He reportedly considered that cabinet should convene, "whatever happens".

His circles quoted him as saying, in remarks published Monday in al-Joumhouria newspaper, that "it is not acceptable to obstruct the country and the people’s affairs for the sake of a certain political party."