Lebanese parties agreed Monday that the cabinet formation process reached its last phases and might see the light before the end of this week should no new obstacles emerge in the last minute of consultations.
“If matter continue to move in this direction, a new cabinet will be announced before the end of this week,” sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“We reached the last phases in solving the Sunni knot,” they said, amid reports that the March 8 Sunni Consultative Gathering has accepted to name a figure not from its six deputies to represent them in the next cabinet.
MPs Abdul-Rahim Murad and Walid Sukkarieh, both from the Consultative Gathering, indirectly confirmed the reports.
Sources from the Mustaqbal Movement told Asharq Al-Awsat that the key to solving the cabinet crisis is in the hands of Hezbollah.
They said that President Michel Aoun, who accepted to name, from his share, a Sunni minister that represents the six MPs, has asked Hezbollah to offer guarantees that the party would not place additional obstacles in the cabinet formation process.
Sources said that changes in the stances of concerned parties have produced positive results in the process.
They said the six independent MPs should now name several figures as possible candidates for the Sunni ministerial post. Aoun would then choose one of them as a minister from his share.
The Consultative Gathering is expected to meet on Tuesday with General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim, who is currently mediating between concerned parties to solve the cabinet crisis.
Murad said Monday there is a possibility to accept the participation of a minister from outside the Consultative Gathering in the new cabinet.
“But, first, there is a need to admit our right to be represented in the government,” he said.
