Amid feeble chances to reach a solution regarding the new Cabinet formation in light of obstacles related to the Christian and Druze knots, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is expected to present Thursday his new version of the cabinet lineup to Lebanese President Michel Aoun, in his latest efforts in this regard.
Despite the presence of extensive contacts between political forces and a phone call between Hariri and Aoun to discuss developments related to the lineup, the level of optimism remained unchanged vis-à-vis announcing a quick formation of the new cabinet.
A leading official from the Future Movement told Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday “there are new proposals, but a speedy cabinet formation is rather linked to the reaction of President Aoun to the version, which Hariri will present today.”
The official ruled out the chance of Aoun accepting this version.
“The President’s requests are impossible,” he said, in a sign to demands that Aoun and his Free Patriotic Movement get 11 ministers in the new Cabinet.
“It is not necessary that Hariri’s new version suits Aoun’s requests,” the official said, adding that obstacles hindering the government birth were rather linked to issues that could not be easily solved.
“The insistence of the President and the FPM on having 11 ministers will lead all efforts to a dead-end,” the official added.
The knot hindering the government formation remains at the level of the LF representation and the PSP insistence not to allow MP Talal Arslan be part of the new government lineup.
Also, Hezbollah insists that the 10 Sunni MPs who are close to the party get a ministerial seat in the new government.
Meanwhile, Aoun met Wednesday with Caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi at the Baabda palace.
Riachi gave no statement to media representatives, but he described his meeting with the President as "very positive."
