No Visit to Baabda... and Mikati Goes Abroad

The visit that Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati spoke about regarding a meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace to discuss the formation of the government does not seem likely to occur before the Eid al-Adha holiday. Despite his announcement on Monday from the Beirut Metropolitan Church for the Greek Orthodox that it would take place in the coming days, sources indicate to "Al-Markaziah" that there is no scheduled meeting today for Mikati at the presidential palace. Additionally, informed sources reveal that the designated prime minister will leave Beirut for Saudi Arabia in the coming hours to perform Umrah during Eid al-Adha. After that, he will head to the United Kingdom to spend the holiday with his family and return to Beirut in the middle of next week to resume his governmental duties.