The intensity of the presidential conflict increases, and the competition over powers escalates between Presidents Michel Aoun and Najib Mikati. Both are racing to showcase their governmental might in the formation and management of the cabinet, especially in light of yesterday's apparent blatant competition between the two sides to take the lead in managing the country. This is evident as the Baabda Palace presents itself as a competing partner to the Grand Serail in holding ministerial and coordination meetings with various sectors.
According to the atmosphere surrounding the fifth meeting between Aoun and Mikati, "the decision on forming the government has been postponed until October, with the anticipated cabinet expected to be born in the final moments of the presidential term," as reported by sources following the governmental communications. These sources expect that the new cabinet will ultimately be "a replica of the caretaker cabinet." They expressed to "Nidaa Al-Watan" that "the involved parties in the governmental talks are convinced that the process of adjusting the ministerial line-up seems very challenging at this time, and therefore the best solution might be to reshuffle the existing government as it is, so that it becomes fully empowered during the presidential vacancy."
It was clarified that "after the designated president withdrew his first proposed line-up and submitted a second line-up keeping Walid Fayad in the Energy Ministry while showing flexibility regarding naming two substitutes for the Ministers of Economy and Displaced, Amin Salam and Issam Sharafeddine, Aoun did not respond to Mikati's retreat with a similar step. Instead, he insisted on unilaterally naming the two substitute ministers, on the grounds that Salam and Sharafeddine were part of his share in the current government. He also reiterated his demand to expand the government to include thirty ministers by adding six political ministers under the pretext of the need to secure political cover for the government that will inherit the presidential powers during the vacancy period."
Meanwhile, the same sources noted that "the main opponent of the thirty-minister cabinet is President Nabih Berri, who openly expressed this in the recent Tyre festival. Additionally, Mikati confirmed to Aoun his lack of enthusiasm for the expansion proposal in order to avoid broadening the scope of disagreement over shares and ministerial appointments." In light of this reality, "Hezbollah" has taken it upon itself to push forward the idea of "keeping the old team intact," informing the parties involved in the formation that it sees the optimal solution to the governmental dilemma in "issuing the formation decrees according to the existing cabinet, with the same distribution of portfolios and ministerial names."
