Berri Says Things Heading in Right Direction, Expects Announcement of Cabinet this Week

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated that the government formation process was not facing obstacles and expected the cabinet line-up to be ready this week.

Berri told As Safir daily in comments published Wednesday that Premier-designate Najib Miqati would “form the cabinet this week after some parties refused to join the national salvation government.”

Things are heading in the right direction, he said.

In remarks to pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, Berri said: “Nothing is hindering the (cabinet) formation after the March 14 forces rejected to participate in it as announced by Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel although I was among the first to laud his dialogue with Miqati.”

“I had hoped that the dialogue would lead to an agreement so that (the March 14 alliance) would become part of the government but these forces are free in their stance,” the speaker told the newspaper.

Following the March 14 decision, “there is no excuse to wait,” Berri said.