Title: Miqati: Bassil Should Not Exceed Boundaries

With the last hopes for forming a new government collapsing, the recent statements made by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, Deputy Gibran Bassil, accusing the designated Prime Minister Naji Mikati of not intending to form a new government reflect the situation reaching a complete deadlock. Sources close to Mikati report his rejection of Bassil's claims that the latter does not want or is not seriously working on forming the government. These sources indicate to “An-Nahar” that Mikati does not accept keeping the current status quo, as he refuses to concede to maintaining a caretaker government until the end of President Michel Aoun's term, if he can avoid it. He plans to approach Baabda as soon as he senses any positive signals from Aoun, despite unfavorable statements from some that undermine the significance of the Grand Serail. Mikati is quoted as saying that there are boundaries that Bassil should not exceed, as Bassil is acting on a plan to make the next government—if formed—aligned with his political ambitions in the last one hundred days of the president's term. Furthermore, he does not restrict himself to that, but also hints that he does not wish to grant this government confidence or bear the consequences of any responsibilities or decisions made in this regard.