Lebanese President Michel Aoun confirmed that the mandatory parliamentary consultations to appoint a Prime Minister to form the new government will take place in the coming days. He will, of course, proceed to set a date for the assignment, although he prefers for this process to occur after a series of unofficial consultations aimed at reaching a preliminary agreement on the structure and makeup of the government before inviting MPs to cast their votes in front of him. Consequently, it does not seem that the anticipated date for the governmental requirement has been defined, as further consultations and political discussions are awaited. However, this interval raises the chances for caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to lead the last government of the current term, creating a new scene in the list of names discussed for the coveted third presidency seat.
In fact, the decision by Future Movement leader Saad Hariri to suspend political activity and completely withdraw from the Lebanese scene has opened the door for many within the Sunni community to vie for the title of "state president," but not leadership, of course. This is in light of the election results which transformed every Sunni MP into a potential Prime Minister candidate, as the community has lost its leaders, making elected MPs equal to graduates from the club of former prime ministers, with some even surpassing them in representing the populace, especially since Mikati lost his parliamentary seat, and his electoral list in Tripoli suffered a substantial blow, similar to former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who also faced significant losses.
Practically, any Sunni figure can be a candidate for the premiership if they manage to convince a parliamentary bloc to support their nomination, especially after the club of former prime ministers has disbanded and the political reference it represented is no longer effective. There are indications suggesting that efforts are being made towards Dar al-Fatwa to fulfill a role that would replace the club's influence and provide political cover for the upcoming prime minister. However, there is currently no legitimate cover for the premiership.
Therefore, political venues are flooded with nominations and names from aspirants who believe luck may smile upon them, granting them entry into the club of prime ministers through the chaos affecting this arena due to the distribution of MPs across various blocs. Thus, Mikati still appears to be favored over others based on the notion "better the devil you know than the devil you don't," and thanks to his international network of relationships that enables him to activate his external communications should a consensus emerge around his name. Nevertheless, Mikati does not show enthusiasm for repeating the experience if it requires him to concede concessions he does not want... and would not mind burning some Sunni candidates on his path.
Among those vying for the leadership of the "Government of Collapse" at Mikati's table is Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, relying on the "achievement" of holding parliamentary elections and combating smuggling, as well as channels of communication with Saudi officials. Additionally, the idea seems to be seriously entertained in the mind of Economy Minister Amin Salam, who believes his affiliation with the Salam family may help him surpass the other "competitors" for the government palace, even if his record has zero achievements.
Outside the government, names are flying from all directions. Ambassador Nawaf Salam is continuously regarded as a potential candidate for the premiership, albeit in a manner akin to "the bride her family wishes to marry off while she is not inclined." Meanwhile, media leaks suggest that Jawad Adra is the candidate of the "Free Patriotic Movement" headed by Gibran Bassil, even though the latter has not proposed any names in any official discussions. Among the "October 17" MPs are more than one Sunni legislator, and presumably, the governmental requirement has sparked enthusiasm among them, with Abdul Rahman al-Bizri leading the charge. The Tripoli MP Ashraf Rifi was the first to "open the door" by confirming his willingness to head the government.
On the axis of the allies of the March 8 forces, Faisal Karami was expected to be a frontrunner, but the ballot boxes disappointed him, even though those around him insist there was a fraud that led to his exclusion from the winners' list. As for the old-timers from the Future Movement, none of them dared to present themselves as successors to Hariri in the premiership.
