In the framework of the non-binding parliamentary consultations led by the designated Prime Minister Najib Mikati at Nejmeh Square, he met with the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. Afterwards, he received the "Development and Liberation" bloc, whose member Ali Hassan Khalil stated after the meeting that they emphasized the necessity of forming a government as soon as possible. He said, "We focused during our meeting with Mikati on the need for this government to work seriously and we underscored the approval of the financial recovery plan, which has not yet been presented to the Parliament through the constitutionally recognized methods," stressing the preservation of depositors' funds in full. He also emphasized the "urgent need to resolve the issue of contracting electricity plants, distancing it from all discussions that took place in the previous phase, and the need to move to a second phase in organizing this sector." He called for "following up on the indirect maritime border negotiations," considering that "this should not be an obstacle to starting oil exploration."
He noted, "We did not specify the shape of the government, as Mikati now knows the existing balances, and what matters to us is that it be an effective government." For his part, Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab, after meeting with Mikati, called for the swift formation of the government. He said, "I asked him to form a government capable of addressing the proposed files and negotiating with the International Monetary Fund, that accompanies the maritime border demarcation process, and that reestablishes normal relations with all Arab countries, Gulf states, and the international community, as well as restoring the value of the Kuwaiti initiative." He added, "I sensed from President Mikati a commitment to rapid formation and cooperation with President Michel Aoun." He believed it is "natural to have cooperation and communication with the Syrian government," stating, "We cannot solve the displacement crisis without communication with Syria, and we learned of offers and facilities presented by the Syrian side in the past two weeks to facilitate returns and work on a creative solution to this crisis."
He confirmed that "it is impossible to form a government without political representation, thus political participation in governments will remain essential." Meanwhile, Deputy George Adwan, after meeting with the "Strong Republic" bloc and Mikati, announced that "the conditions we set cannot be implemented in the last three months of this term." He stated, "Our conditions are represented by a government that restores the state's decision in all matters, as with such a government restoring relations with foreign countries becomes feasible."
He continued, "The Strong Republic bloc will not participate in this government, and our monitoring of it will be intense. We hope that the Parliament will soon move towards electing a new president for the republic because then all the conditions we discussed can be implemented." He added, "Our tripartite is people, state, and army, and we will present our required program to the next president, and the person who aligns with the program becomes our presidential candidate."
Adwan mentioned, "God help President Mikati, and I believe this word describes the reality, 'We came to complain to him, and he started complaining to us.'" The head of the National Liberal Party, Deputy Camille Chamoun, during the meeting with Mikati from the "Strong Republic" bloc, raised the issue of consumer protection, noting that "prices have risen to unacceptable levels." He added that "all previous governments had sectarian aspects." He wished "to reach decentralization that resolves most of our problems and to form a government even if it is temporary."
On behalf of the "Loyalty to the Resistance" bloc, Deputy Mohammed Raad stated after meeting with Mikati, "The crisis is internal and external, and addressing it requires everyone’s participation to rise. Those who wish to boycott the consultations, that is their choice, but it is unacceptable for anyone to boycott and blame others," emphasizing that "everyone must bear responsibilities in this phase, and we do not oppose the presence of all parties in the government; we extend our hand to everyone."
He said, "We must build our future free and independent country without dependency on the outside." Mikati also met with the Change MPs, and Deputy Halima Qaaqour announced on behalf of the change deputies, "That putting the responsibility on President Najib Mikati was clear. We demanded a mini-government with exceptional powers to distribute losses fairly and perform rescue tasks." She stated, "We will not participate in any quota government or national unity."
She added, "Demonizing differing viewpoints among the change deputies is unacceptable, and this difference strengthens us and does not weaken us; we are not a bloc but are in the process of building a bloc and agreeing on the majority of issues." In a brief statement, Deputy Taymour Jumblatt, speaking on behalf of the Democratic Gathering after meeting with the designated president, said: "We informed President Najib Mikati that we will not participate in the government, but we will assist in its formation."
Deputy Saji Attia, on behalf of the National Moderation bloc, called for "quickly forming the government given the difficult conditions the nation is experiencing and we hoped that President Mikati would ensure our regions are represented in the government and that the share would be significant." Regarding the shape of the upcoming government, Attia remarked, "Honestly, it is difficult to sense anything from President Mikati."
Deputy Tony Franjieh, speaking on behalf of the Independent National Bloc, indicated that "we informed President Mikati of our vision for forming the government, and what matters to us is that this government alleviates the pressure of the collapse and ensures a good summer season and completing the economic plans," noting that "our priorities and aspirations are far from participating in the government or not; we neither refuse to participate nor demand it."
He said: "The Ministry of Energy is a priority, as is the Ministry of Education, and we must resolve educational issues; we will not demand these two portfolios, but we hope that the person who takes one of them is worthy of the responsibility, and we wish for the 'Free Patriotic Movement' to give the energy portfolio to someone else, as we oppose affirming new precedents in ministries." Franjieh continued, "The economic plan has many positive aspects, and we will review it and base our stance on that; we want a plan that protects the vulnerable, and we are open to all scenarios."
For his part, Deputy Sami Gemayel, on behalf of the Kataeb bloc, stated: "We informed Mikati that we are not interested in participating in a government similar to previous ones and called for the formation of a government as soon as possible because the state is disintegrating. The disintegration of the state does not wait four months that some bet on after the presidential elections, and not naming a prime minister is an assassination of the Lebanese people."
He added, "Waiting is a collective crime committed by political parties against the people, and we ring the alarm bell; the designated prime minister must present his formation within two weeks, and President Michel Aoun and Najib Mikati must assume their responsibility if obstruction continues." Deputy Michel Moawad noted on behalf of the "North of Confrontation" bloc that "we did not name Mikati not just because he is part of the system but also due to practices and the lack of solutions to continue the path that led us here," noting that "one of the foundations that any rescue government must be based on is not entering into national unity governments as they undermine the state of institutions."
He saw that "the government that will be formed must extricate the maritime border demarcation file from the axis games, as this file is strictly sovereign, and we cannot build a country on the equation of 'either justice or stability' nor can we continue in a country among the most corrupt while there are no corrupt." Deputy Ghassan Skaf expressed his wish for success for President Mikati, considering that "the ambitious government is postponed to the next term; this is a government of wasted time, and we need an emergency and mini-government comprised of specialists."
He added, "The new government must secure the daily essentials for the Lebanese people, and we must quickly initiate the formation of the government, which should not take more than a week, and we hope not to arrive at a government of managing the vacuum."
