With the Higher Judicial Council containing the crisis of the Public Prosecutor of Mount Lebanon, Ghada Aoun, by returning her to institutional procedures through referring the judge associated with the presidential team to the Judicial Inspection, and supporting the decision of the Chief Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Oweidat, to dismiss her from the financial file, or what is described as “self forensic auditing," the fog around this "smoke bomb," as described by one financial expert, has lifted, revealing the significant disagreement over the demarcation of southern maritime borders, which is part of the obstacles to forming the government. The core issue is the composition and methodology of the upcoming government.
Some may argue that Judge Aoun has not yet raised the white flag and is still holding on to financial files, which are the concern of the Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim. However, judicial sources confirmed yesterday that the problem has returned to its political roots—namely, the formation of the government, which the designated Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, reached the Vatican today, Thursday, to meet with Pope Francis, insisting on two decisive pledges: no one gets a blocking third, and no party members in the government. Meanwhile, the Free Patriotic Movement believes that as long as Hariri is outside the country, there is no need to discuss the government.
On the other hand, the duo of Hezbollah and Amal Movement has adopted President Nabih Berri’s initiative, proposing a government of 24 ministers with no blocking third for any party. Amal sources confirmed that both the Arab and American sides, referring to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Hale, who visited Beirut consecutively, showed support for the initiative. However, the Free Patriotic Movement continues to state that it does not want to participate in the government, then questions why Saad Hariri is not communicating with them.
As for sources within the movement, they argue that what is termed Berri’s initiative was not presented in a scientific manner but was limited to discussions in the media. Amal sources respond that the initiative is clear, questioning why they haven’t announced their position on it, suggesting that they want Berri to propose his initiative so they can reject it in line with their adversarial policies.
Following sources noted that the obstruction of the maritime border delineation decree in the south has complicated government formation in early May, as it was anticipated, due to Israel's intention to begin drilling in the disputed area on the 20th of this month. It appears that external deadlines for formation have now been extended to the end of May, creating a pressing time equation that makes it impossible to reverse the Central Bank's cessation of support for essential goods, as determined by Governor Riad Salameh at the end of the same month, except by a decision from an effective new government.
Thus, the equation becomes: either you form the government, or the central bank stops supporting goods, and those causing delays must bear the consequences of the dollar's insanity on the popular base.
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, at the opening of an extraordinary conference for Catholic bishops, stated, "We want a government that restores the dignity of the state and frees the judiciary from the politicians." In this context, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt tweeted, "It seems that the regional struggle is intensifying in Lebanon, which makes the local roosters fight, indifferent to the reputation and sanctity of institutions. In this regard, it is necessary to bolster the army, neutralize it, and support it materially and morally, and the fundamental step is to stop supporting traders and allocate food cards to citizens before the structure collapses."
