The caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi at the summer residence of the Maronite Patriarchate in Diman, where they held a private meeting to discuss current developments. Participating in part of the meeting were the Patriarchal Deputy in Jbeil and Zgharta, Bishop Joseph Naffa, and Bishop Peter Karam.
After the visit, Mikati stated: "The meeting with His Beatitude in Diman is renewed every year at this time. We discussed political topics and the issue of forming a government. I explained to His Beatitude the recent developments and the necessity of expediting the formation of a government, and for this reason, I presented the government lineup the day after the non-binding parliamentary consultations. His Beatitude was understanding of all matters, and I thanked him for all the support he provides to the government and his insistence on quickly forming a government. I also thanked him for the trust he always gives me, for his affection and love, and for his emphasis that I represent a bridge between all sects."
When asked about reports suggesting that he submitted a lineup that includes rotation in portfolios related to the President to ensure rejection, Mikati replied: "In principle, I refuse to discuss individuals or portfolios associated with a specific team. We must all be for the nation and have a national government in every sense of the word; otherwise, the country will not rise."
When questioned why he kept the Finance Ministry with President Nabih Berri's team, he explained: "I chose a new minister and kept the portfolio within the existing sectarian distribution. In one of my media encounters, I stated that no portfolio can be exclusively reserved for a specific sect, but in this particular circumstance, where the government's lifespan will be limited, we do not want to open a dispute over the Finance Ministry. It is essential for the government to carry out its duties, whether it is a caretaker government or a new government, to reach the presidency peacefully and safely."
Regarding optimism, he noted: "Before the parliamentary elections, I saw difficulties in electing a new president, but the new scene in the parliament does not indicate that there is a team wanting to obstruct. Therefore, I hope that a president will be elected, and within two or three months we will have a new president and a new government to begin the necessary recovery in the country."
On whether a new government will be formed, he emphasized: "To those who claim that I do not want to form a government, I say that I formed a government and sent it to the President. If he wishes to adjust one or two individuals, I have no objections; however, it is not acceptable for a team to say, 'I want this and that' and impose its conditions while admitting it did not name the prime minister, does not want to participate in the government, and does not want to grant it confidence."
He further commented: "There is a constitutional process that mandates the resignation of the government upon the election of a new parliament, so we cannot say to keep the government as it is. The caretaker government exists, but we cannot say that we are not striving to form a new government as soon as possible. I presented a lineup with the majority of its ministers from the current government because the new ministers will not be able to adequately understand the files of their ministries in a short time. Let's take, for example, the Ministry of Social Affairs, which deals with essential files and is well overseen by the Minister; can a new minister understand the details of these files in such a short time?"
He concluded: "The caretaker government is in place, and we are striving to form the new government, but the countdown is tight because the deadline for electing a new president starts on September 1." Regarding the border demarcation file, he stated: "We have received encouraging information that can be further improved, but I will not comment on it until we receive the official and written response to the Lebanese proposal."
