It seemed from the political stances and atmosphere that prevailed yesterday that the level of optimism regarding the possibility of forming a new government has begun to decline, despite attempts made by each party from its position. None of the parties involved in the government formation have shifted from their demands or their vision for the nature of the new government. Even the response of the head of the "Free Patriotic Movement," MP Gibran Bassil, to the call by the head of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, to revive the current government was overshadowed by a violent escalation against the designated Prime Minister Najib Mikati, indicating that this proposal, according to Bassil's agenda, is not feasible.
Political sources familiar with the formation file indicated to "Al-Jumhuriya" that the commencement of the constitutional deadline for electing a new president tomorrow will serve as an excuse for all parties to retreat from the governmental file in favor of advancing the presidential file over the coming weeks.
These sources added that even the presidential approach to withdraw the mandate from Mikati witnesses a divergence and disagreement among those surrounding the President of the Republic, particularly between Bassil, who promotes this proposal, and the presidential adviser, former Minister Salim Jreissati, who believes that there is no constitutional basis for it. In contrast, there are constitutional consultations with the Prime Minister that reinforce the constitutional opinion stating that the current government can assume the powers of the President of the Republic in the event of a presidential vacancy, regardless of its status as a caretaker government. The sources exclude that the fifth meeting, if it occurs, between Aoun and Mikati will yield progress in the formation process, and it will only be limited to a consultative framework.
