Lebanese media sources revealed today, Monday, that the French role and influence in forming a government in Lebanon is now at stake.
According to informed circles speaking to the Lebanese newspaper "Al-Joumhuria," "the French role in Lebanon has become critical; either it will manage to impose a government soon, or this role will diminish for a long time." They pointed out that Paris is now faced with a complicated equation.
Commenting on the speech of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, political circles opposing "Beit al-Wasat" noticed that "there are gaps and omissions in the narrative he presented regarding the obstacles delaying government formation."
They also questioned, "Why do Hariri, Speaker of the House Nabih Berri, 'Hezbollah,' and former MP Walid Jumblatt have the right to determine the identities of Sunni, Shia, and Druze ministers, while Hariri wants to intervene in the names of Christian ministers? Who has told him that Dr. Fadia Kawa, whom he hinted at, must be inherently acceptable to President Michel Aoun, just because he had wished for her support to hold a position abroad, considering her primarily Lebanese? And who has also told him that Judge Ziad Abu Haidar, whom he nominated for the Ministry of Interior, is necessarily an acceptable choice for Aoun, merely because this judge was appointed to his position during the tenure of former Minister of Justice and current presidential adviser Salim Jreissati?"
Meanwhile, independent sources from "outside the existing alignment between Baabda and Beit al-Wasat" disclosed to "Al-Joumhuria" that the list was taken off the television screen when Hariri raised it with his hand during his speech, allowing some to display it and recognize its contents.
The sources added that Hariri selected four names from the President's list: former Bar Association president Antoine Klemous for the Ministry of Justice, university professor Abdo Jirjiss for the Ministry of Education, Dr. Saadeh Chami for Finance, and engineer Walid Nassar for Public Works and Transport.
