While the election of the Speaker of the Parliament and his deputy has become a reality regardless of the numbers and votes, the government file, including its naming and formation, remains unresolved for now. It is generally understood that the individual who will form the government will somewhat define the identity of the new government, and the constitution clearly states that the President of the Republic is a partner in this formation. In Lebanon, there has been no political agreement on the shape of the government except after some settlement, and each team essentially has its own vision for the government that will manage the situation: political, neutral, technopolitical, specialized, rescue-oriented, among others. It is worth noting that national unity governments have ruled for a considerable time... This reflects the global disagreement on governments that have been bogged down by sectarian quotas, and most governments did not last long, resigning for various reasons.
Some have sent signals regarding the new government while others have directly expressed their desire for this or that government, but so far, the entire file remains suspended, and thus serious consideration of the nature of the new government has not yet commenced, assuming that forming it is an easy task.
Informed political sources told "Akhbar Al-Yawm" that the issue of the government's formation awaits local and external agreements. Consequently, the lines of communication are expected to intensify for this purpose, with all blocs launching their consultations regarding the government. The sources believe that there is no guarantee that things will proceed as desired for a swift government formation, especially since many are familiar with the stories of prolonged appointments. They also know that a single key word has been sufficient to facilitate the quick passage of stalled formations, stating their belief that this government arising after the 2022 elections reflects the electoral scene, and thus it will not be possible to bypass it unless the forces decide to not participate. Essentially, there is a word from the changing forces bloc, and the features will become clear during the mandatory parliamentary consultations.
There are also positions from other influential blocs, which vary in opinions. The sources clarify that the upcoming government, if obstacles are removed, cannot be neutral, nor can it be purely political or specialized. What is known as technopolitical may be among the proposed options unless a new factor emerges to alter the equations. Regarding the shape of the government, the sources state that the discussion may not necessarily connect with this detail but rather with the ongoing debate regarding forming a government to manage the vacuum in case the presidential election is not completed, and a government that may serve the aspirations of the current tenure, particularly concerning reforms before it ends.
They observe that while analyses abound, there will be facts to resort to, and that the phase of determining the date of the mandatory parliamentary consultations will commence after completing some details, communications, and the emergence of "hidden" or other "traditional" candidates. They emphasize that the political game in forming governments and some entitlements is well known and relates to bargaining; it has long stayed this way and is likely to continue with minor breaches.
