Miqati Intentionally ‘Turns off Engines’ of Cabinet Consultations

Premier-designate Najib Miqati has said that he intentionally “turned off the engines” of his consultations to form the new government after Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun sought to bring back to the table issues that the involved parties had already reached agreement on.

According to As Safir daily, Miqati told his visitors that he was still waiting for Aoun to propose the names of his bloc’s candidates to join the new government.

While he avoided snapping back at the FPM chief, who on Tuesday accused the prime minister-designate of intentionally delaying the formation of the cabinet, Miqati said: “It is an exaggeration to say that we asked for 45 names to choose from.”

“We suggested receiving (names) so that we could have an array of logical choices,” he told his visitors.

Miqati said that consultations between the different parties reached a standstill after a preliminary agreement on solving the interior ministry obstacle “because Aoun began making suggestions on issues that we thought we had overcome.”

The FPM leader said on Tuesday that he made concessions with regard to the interior ministry when he proposed naming retired Internal Security Forces Maj. Gen. Marwan Charbel to the post. But he accused Miqati of imposing other conditions on him.

The remark drew sarcasm from Miqati, who voiced surprise over Aoun’s description of his acceptance to name candidates for the ministry as a concession.

“We thank him for making concessions and we hope it will speed up the formation process,” sources close to the premier-designate told An Nahar newspaper.

They stressed that Miqati is not willing to engage in a “media battle” with Aoun.