The ice has been broken between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati after yesterday's meeting, but this does not mean that the path to forming a government is on the right track. The obstacles remain unchanged, and forming a government is elusive; rather, the country may be heading for more tension, especially with a faction that believes the caretaker government has no right to assume the powers of the presidency, which could open the door to interpretations and possibly constitutional rulings.
A well-informed source, speaking through "Akhbar al-Yawm," indicated that Mikati's move towards the presidential palace is not serious and will not lead to government formation. The suggestions seemed to imply either keeping the government unchanged with amendments concerning two names associated with President Aoun, which he opposed, and it seems that the matter ended there.
The source outlined the reasons that prompted Mikati to take action:
- He senses resentment against him as people have come to believe he does not want to form a government.
- He found that the transfer of power to him is not automatic, unlike when Tamam Salam's non-resigning government assumed presidential powers.
- Pressure from countries that favor not having presidential elections and want a fully empowered government.
- Pressure from the Sunni community, accusing him of obstructing the prime ministerial position.
Additionally, the source remarked that after two months of obstruction, with deadlines looming, it was evident that the move was not serious. A 20-minute meeting and the assertion that there will be further discussions indicate that government formation is not imminent.
The source also noted the timing of Mikati's visit to Baabda Palace, which came days after an invitation from Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, while he had not taken action despite a similar request from Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rahi and several parliamentary blocs. This raises the question: Is Mikati paving the way and establishing connections with Hezbollah for the "post-Aoun" phase?
