Mikati says hasn't succeeded in convincing BDL vice-governors not to resign

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Thursday that he has not yet succeeded in convincing the Central Bank vice-governors not to resign.

"We are discussing the opportunity to give the vice-governors a temporary funding to maintain financial stability," he added.

Mikati told reporters that everyone should have the needed awareness to find a way to secure the temporary loan until things are fixed, as he reassured that he does not expect a dramatic deterioration of the Lebanese currency.

Lebanon, which has no president and is ruled by a caretaker government, might also have to go without a central bank chief from next week, if no successor is named for the embattled bank governor, Riad Salameh, 73, who steps down after three decades at the helm at the end of July.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had urged Mikati to call for a Cabinet session to appoint a new Central Bank governor but the cabinet session was canceled Thursday due to a lack of quorum.

Mikati met twice with vice-governors, Wassim Mansouri, Bashir Yakzan, Salim Chahine and Alexander Mouradian to convince them not to resign after they threatened that they would quit unless politicians swiftly name an incoming governor.

The vice-governors have some demands and are asking for the government and parliament's support to continue their work.

Lebanon's central bank governor is named by cabinet decree for a six-year mandate that can be renewed multiple times. If the position is vacant, the law stipulates that the first vice-governor take over.

"If the first vice-governor resigns, the second vice-governor should take over," Mikati said.

In case all four vice-governors decide to resign, they would act in caretaker capacity until the appointment of a new governor.