Miqati’s Mission Suffers Setback, PM-designate Surprised by Aoun’s Remarks

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati was surprised by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s latest stance which did not reflect the progress made in the contacts on the formation of the new government, sources close to Miqati have said.

But the sources told An Nahar and As Safir newspapers in remarks published Wednesday that Miqati will pursue his contacts with officials to form a “productive cabinet that satisfies all Lebanese and whose formation is based on constitutional rules.”

Aoun said Tuesday that he was unaware of any progress in the premier-designate’s efforts to form the new cabinet.

We have not been informed of the progress that has been made,” Aoun said after the meeting of his Change and Reform bloc.

An Nahar said that despite the setback that Miqati’s efforts suffered after Aoun’s statement, efforts are underway to bring the two men together.

The major cabinet formation obstacle remains the interior ministry portfolio, it said, but quoted informed sources as saying that the developments in the region have also complicated the process.

They doubted that the government could be formed anytime soon.

“The regional circumstances are very complicated and the March 8 team cannot overcome these obstacles,” other sources told al-Mustaqbal daily.

It quoted Change and Reform bloc member MP Hikmat Deeb as saying that Aoun is demanding to choose the names of his ministers after agreeing on the number of portfolios he would get.

“This means a return to square one,” the sources said.