Report: Govt. Formation Reaching Dead End, Unless Aoun Shows Less Rigidity

President Michel Aoun has hit out at Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati, accusing him of not wanting to form a government, according to a political source.

The source told Asharq al-Awsatt newspaper, in remarks published Friday that Aoun is trying to hold Miqati responsible for the delay in the government formation process.

Aoun had sent to Miqati, through the General Director of the Presidential Palace Antoine Choucair, a list containing new names that had not been previously presented nor discussed in their last meeting, according to the source,

The source added that "Miqati refuses to be a partner in obstructing the government formation, and will not accept to form a government that contradicts the French initiative and that is based on (the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Jebran) Bassil’s ambitions.”

The source also remarked that "Miqati had said many times that the government formation timeframe is not open-ended."

“Aoun is insisting on choosing partisans affiliated with Bassil to fill key ministerial portfolios, including the energy portfolio,” the informed source stated.

According to the newspaper’s source, “the government formation is now hitting a dead-end unless Aoun decides to be less rigid and to make way for the selection of ministers who can restore the trust of the Lebanese and address the international community that is refraining from helping Lebanon unless a reform government is formed.”