After his second meeting with President Michel Aoun following his designation, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati did not leave with a positive impression of an imminent agreement on the shape of the new government. However, both presidents preferred to disseminate an atmosphere of optimism regarding the possibility of reaching an understanding next week based on options presented by Aoun yesterday, to which Mikati did not respond with acceptance or rejection.
While Mikati refrained from making any statements upon leaving the Baabda Palace, the presidential palace announced in a statement that "some ideas and proposals were raised during the meeting, and another meeting will be held at the beginning of next week to continue the discussion and consultation." The leak of the governmental formation that Mikati gave to President Aoun last Wednesday dominated much of the discussion, as both parties exchanged accusations regarding the leak. Sources accompanying the meeting indicated that Mikati "expressed his displeasure with the leak of the formation shortly after delivering it to the President and leaving Baabda Palace." They clarified to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the two presidents "discussed the negative repercussions that ensued after the names of ministers and portfolios were revealed, especially since some parties used it as a pretext to undermine the endeavors of the Prime Minister and his desire for a serious government coalition."
The two men emphasized that they "agreed to move past this issue based on mutual respect and their sincere intent to swiftly form the government." The positive atmosphere characterizing yesterday's meeting and the wish to promote media calm do not suggest that an agreement on a joint formula is imminent, particularly as the Prime Minister rejects any preconditions placed upon him. He is "confident that the President will not overlook the points raised by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, regarding the next government, foremost among them the dismissal of the Governor of the Central Bank, Riad Salameh, and will actually insist on them," according to informed sources.
Informed sources from Baabda Palace revealed that the President "listened to the compelling reasons that led Mikati to revive the resigning government and supplement it with some names." They indicated to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the President "presented several options to the designated president, primarily two. The first is to form a government that enjoys the widest political support because it will face critical challenges, and it may be very beneficial to form a government of political ministers to secure political cover for it to be productive and fortified."
Furthermore, the sources noted that another important option according to the President is "to consider a government format that mixes politicians and technocrats, provided it receives political support from the major parliamentary blocs and gains confidence in front of the parliament." They highlighted that "the session scheduled between Aoun and Mikati at the beginning of next week will determine which of the options can be adopted, after which discussions will begin regarding details, portfolios, and names of ministers."
Mikati's dynamism and his intensive meetings with Aoun reflect a desire to seek a common ground that paves the way for the formation of a government capable of addressing significant challenges, including resuming negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and confronting economic, financial, and social crises. The media advisor to the Prime Minister, Fares Al-Jamil, confirmed to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the meeting between Presidents Aoun and Mikati "dissipated the negative atmosphere that prevailed after the leak of the governmental formation." Al-Jamil explained to "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the discussions touched upon the real foundations of the new government's format and proved that there is a willingness to agree on the government's shape and the necessity of hastening its formation, indicating that "the leaked formation is merely a draft government intended for discussion with the President, and during yesterday's meeting, all possibilities were considered, including the government's shape and the potential for expanding it and changing ministers' names and portfolios." He noted that this meeting solidified a strong relationship with the President and provided a good ground for discussing everything.
Mikati's advisor did not conceal that the meeting "discussed several ideas regarding the government format, and the President provided his observations, with some ideas being presented and all the positives and negatives associated with the government draft being discussed," emphasizing that "all the ideas presented will crystallize in the upcoming week."
