The series of statements between the Free Patriotic Movement and the third presidency, which the Lebanese have previously witnessed during the designation of President Saad Hariri, has reoccurred with President Najib Mikati. The two teams have thrown accusations of obstruction and corruption at each other, while the first presidency distanced itself from the fray, with the movement and its leader taking the initiative in the attack. The fronts have opened wide, with the movement throwing sensitive and powerful documents into the mix, referencing back to the era of President Omar Karami, reminding Mikati of "Paradise and Hell," and appearing to open the files upon request, with those dated documents that time had seemingly forgotten. Mikati, on the other hand, issued a brief statement, hinting at the sanctions imposed on the movement's leader, Jibran Bassil. Meanwhile, the Lebanese stood by, watching the exchange of accusations of obstruction and corruption, with no solutions in sight.
Member of the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, MP Asaad Dergham, pointed out that "the task of the president tasked with forming the government is to do so in agreement with the President of the Republic. However, after Mikati presented his cabinet lineup and Aoun raised his observations, he did not engage seriously with the file, and here we are, the issues are left unattended and the file remains stagnant, and the delay in formation has opened the debate."
In an interview with the electronic newspaper "Al-Anbaa," regarding the reason for reopening old corruption files at this time and the reasons for their previous silence, Dergham noted that "initially, there was a consensus and a truce aimed at forming the government, but with changing circumstances and complexities, each party opened up and shared what was on their minds."
Regarding the formation, Dergham wished for the government to be formed as quickly as possible, as a catastrophe would occur if Lebanon reached the presidential election date and something obstructed the electoral process, amidst a caretaker government.
