Miqati Refuses to ‘Shackle’ Himself with Cabinet Formation Timeframe

Premier-designate Najib Miqati reiterated that he would form a government that satisfies the Lebanese and respects the Constitution and the Taef Accord.

“I will not shackle myself with any grace period or dates,” Miqati told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Tuesday.

“The constitution allows me to take enough time in the (government) formation and I will not form a cabinet unless it satisfies all the Lebanese and respects the constitution and the Taef agreement,” he said.

In another remark to al-Akhbar daily, the prime minister-designate said he was “fed up” with the status quo but stressed he wouldn’t commit himself to a timeframe to form his cabinet.

Sources involved in the contacts aimed at forming the government, told An Nahar newspaper that the obstacles created mainly by the demands of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun haven’t dissipated yet.

The newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that March 14 officials have encouraged Miqati to form a technocrat government, which would get the vote of confidence of parliament.

But the premier-designate’s sources wondered “what kind of trap some people are trying to set for Miqati?”