Caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine accused Friday Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati of not wanting to repatriate the Syrian refugees.

"Mikati doesn't want to facilitate the repatriation of the refugees," Sharafeddine said, adding that he and Mikati are at odds because of many disagreements over economic issues, and not just because of the refugees case.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Thursday accused political rivals of giving up Christian rights and said they “lost their mind” when he visited Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to seek “consensus” over the next president.

“Without making a concession over representation, we have said that we might cede it to a person on whom we can agree to prevent (presidential) vacuum,” Bassil said in a video he posted on Twitter.

The Finance and Budget Committee, headed by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, convened Thursday to discuss the 2022 state budget law.

Kanaan asked the government to give realistic numbers for the so-called customs dollar that will determine the LBP to USD exchange rate to be used to calculate customs on imports.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati told ministers in Tuesday’s meeting that he is “keen” on the formation of a new government, caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad said on Thursday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has slammed Free Patriotic chief Jebran Bassil, accusing him, along with President Michel Aoun, of obstructing reforms, especially in the energy sector.

Jumblat also criticized Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and considered that Geagea has made it possible for Aoun to become President.

President Michel Aoun warned Wednesday that “the effort of some countries to integrate the displaced Syrians present in Lebanon into the Lebanese society is a crime that Lebanon will not accept no matter what happens.”

Aoun voiced his remarks in a Baabda meeting with Canadian International Development Minister Harjit S. Sajjan.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed Wednesday that “an understanding or a settlement with the Axis of Defiance over the presidential file is rejected, because it will certainly lead to prolonging the crises that the country is suffering from.”

“The concerns and interests of Hezbollah contradict with the interests of Lebanon the state and the country,” Geagea added, in a meeting in Maarab with Swedish Ambassador to Lebanon Ann Dismorr.

The Free Patriotic Movement on Wednesday denied that FPM chief Jebran Bassil has asked to meet with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea over the presidential file.

“Whenever the FPM chief is asked about his readiness to meet with those with whom he has political differences, he answers that he is ready to meet with anyone for the sake of the public interest,” the FPM’s central media committee said in a statement.

MP Paula Yacoubian called Wednesdays the MPs to vote on draft laws that would resume the Beirut port blast probe and prevent future obstructions.

In a press conference at the Parliament, Yacoubian said she had contacted the parliamentary blocs, except for Amal and Hezbollah, as she said that the Shiite Duo's position is clear concerning the probe.

Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel said Wednesday that the opposition forces are forming a coordination framework in order to reach a common agreement on a candidate for Presidency.

"We are communicating with the Lebanese Forces, the Progressive Socialist Party and other new MPs in order to agree on a President who is able to rescue Lebanon," Gemayel said.