An Arab diplomatic source revealed that the French have expanded their consultations to include the Americans and the Saudis as well. There is a preliminary shift in Saudi Arabia's stance, transitioning from a lack of interest in the Lebanese file to a willingness to support a government that reflects the political reality in Lebanon, denying any preference for naming a specific candidate. The Arab diplomatic source confirmed to "Al-Akhbar" that Paris has received initial support from the American side and that Washington has conducted an assessment showing results in favor of Prime Minister Najib Mikati. International institutions assume that Mikati's government may not represent a source of severe division, even if some forces remain outside it, referring to the Lebanese Forces. It was noted that the French and Americans might open the door to discuss another candidate for premiership, provided they are from the new deputies and not aligned with traditional forces.
In a related context, informed sources indicated that a "general settlement" facilitated what occurred last Tuesday, and repeating the experience implies an advance notice of the primary forces' commitment to forming a government similar to the current one, fundamentally excluding the Lebanese Forces, with the intention of replacing those affiliated with the Future Movement with others acceptable to President Saad Hariri, while also trying to attract some new deputies to ministerial seats.
Simultaneously, parliamentary sources disclosed to "Al-Anbaa Al-Electronia" that communications are ongoing between several blocs to agree on naming a candidate who enjoys the consensus of the deputies. Sources noted that President Najib Mikati is the most likely to form the government at this stage, but this proposal faces many obstacles, notably the announcement by head of the Strong Lebanon Bloc, Gibran Bassil, of his refusal to support Mikati, indicating he is leaning toward naming another candidate, possibly Jawad Adra. Furthermore, the change-oriented deputies are also not inclined to name Mikati, as are the independent deputies whose positions remain unclear, suggesting that forming a government will not be easy at all.
Regarding whether there is a constitutional provision that sets a deadline for forming the government, lawyer Paul Merac, head of the "Justiceia Rights Foundation," clarified in a call with "Al-Anbaa" that there is no deadline in the constitution except for the president to call for mandatory parliamentary consultations. He argued that the silence of the text does not imply the absence of a deadline in administrative and constitutional jurisprudence, which is termed a reasonable deadline, measured in hours rather than days in our deteriorating situation. Merac indicated that the only stipulated timeframe in this regard is that the new government must present its ministerial statement within thirty days. He stated, "Until the election of the Speaker of the Parliament and the Deputy Speaker, we wasted ten days that delayed the government formation, and we are still wasting time while Lebanon awaits the doctor in the operating room."
For his part, MP Qassem Hashem noted that there are no constitutional deadlines, but the logic of the matter suggests that a new government must be formed after each constitutional stage. He added to "Al-Anbaa" that initiating consultations requires a date set by the President, but it is not bound by a constitutional deadline; this is governed by the vision of the first presidency. He said, "Perhaps the delay of a few days is to clarify the picture of the blocs, as there are several deputies who have not yet joined specific blocs." He expected the consultations to be scheduled after the parliamentary session next Tuesday, and perhaps delayed until the following week to give time for discussion regarding the next prime minister's candidate, among whom there could be multiple names under consideration due to the diversity of deputies.
MP Walid Baerini indicated through "Al-Anbaa" that the deputies of the Akkar Gathering are inclined to support President Mikati, revealing a forthcoming visit for the Akkar Gathering and the Akkar Development Bloc to Mikati's home to express this desire while urging for a government to be formed as quickly as possible to save the country from collapse.
