Agreement to Speed up Cabinet Formation, But Lack of Consensus Over Shares
Premier-designate Najib Miqati has said contacts on the formation of the government are making progress and stressed all problems could be solved.
In remarks to As Safir newspaper published Tuesday, Miqati said: “The channels of contact are open in all directions and are making progress.”
“All problems can be solved and the atmosphere is more comfortable and better than before,” he added.
Miqati’s circles stressed to As Safir and An Nahar dailies that the premier-designate was waiting for local consensus and agreement on shares, denying that the formation of the cabinet needed a Syrian-Saudi deal.
“We are only waiting for an internal agreement to form a balanced and productive government,” they said.
Refuting claims that Miqati was waiting for the Syrian green light, the circles said the regional turmoil should be “an incentive to speed up the formation of the cabinet.”
Despite rumors that the prime minister-designate’s task is facing many obstacles, a March 8 official told An Nahar that Miqati is now discussing with involved parties the distribution of portfolios.
“We are confident that Miqati has no choice but to take steps forward and not to back off from his mission,” the official said.
However, he stressed that no specific date was set for the formation of the cabinet. “All we can say is that the (government’s) birth is approaching.”
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