The seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki has planned a mediation effort after a dispute between Lebanon’s two main Christian parties, the Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), caused a delay in cabinet formation.
Informed political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called for a meeting next Thursday with caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi from the LF and FPM lawmaker Ibrahim Kanaan, whose efforts had culminated in the 2016 “Maarab Understanding” that paved the way for the election of FPM founder Michel Aoun as president in October that year.
The Patriarch aims to ease tension between the Christian parties and prepare for a political document that would pave the way for a meeting between LF leader Samir Geagea and FPM chief Jebran Bassil, who is also Lebanon’s caretaker foreign minsiter.
Following a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, caretaker Minister of Industry Hussein al-Hajj Hassan said: "Berri is concerned over the delay in the formation of the new government … and he may even invite the Parliament for a session to discuss” the issue.
FPM ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that PM-designate Saad Hariri is expected to visit Aoun soon to discuss the matter and to work on activating his consultations, which had stopped since the emergence of the crisis between the two Christian allies.
Tension between both camps increased after the LF leaked the confidential “Maarab Understanding” to the media and which revealed that Geagea’s party should get the same share of seats as the FPM.
A source said that no progress is expected in the cabinet formation efforts if disputes between the FPM and the LF are not contained.
