A diplomatic source warned against the "ministerial taqiyya" in the hidden struggle over the formation of the new government, under the pretext of "wanting nothing," while the truth is that they want everything, considering President Michel Aoun's final signature on the decree to form a government. This comes if the government is formed within the very narrow timeframe communicated to the concerned parties from several regional and international stakeholders involved in the Lebanese situation.
The source told "Nidaa al-Watan" that "all political parties in Lebanon are aware that time is very limited. The lineup that the Prime Minister-designate and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will bring to the presidential palace after completing his parliamentary consultations is the lineup that could keep the international community encouraged to continue the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, to move from the preliminary agreement to the final agreement, the implementation of which will certainly be the responsibility of the new term and its first government."
The source added: "The advice given to the President of the 'National Movement' deputy Gibran Bassil is to facilitate the formation so that he might win by the end of August the non-renewal of the American sanctions imposed on him. Between the option of obstruction and the option of facilitation, it is logical for Bassil to consider the non-renewal of the sanctions, as it might allow him to catch his breath to be among the partners in drafting the national agreement regarding the specifications of the upcoming President of the Republic, and thus defining his identity. He must provide effort or seek assistance from friends, such as the honorary consul of Lebanon in Monaco, Mustafa Solh (the brother-in-law of Taha Mikati, President Mikati's sibling), who previously secured a significant share for the 'Movement's' leader in the current caretaker government."
He clarified that "the international, regional, and Arab movement, which will culminate in the Riyadh summit in mid-July, will bring together leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq with the participation of U.S. President Joe Biden, to discuss all issues in the region, including the Eastern Mediterranean gas file, must be preceded by a Lebanese will to form a government capable of keeping up with the rapid transformations at the regional level. Any obstruction will make Lebanon a bargaining chip on the table, with no partnership in shaping the proposed solutions to its collapse on all levels."
He pointed out that "the Riyadh summit, which will discuss the Lebanese situation, will practically launch the executive mechanism for the Lebanese presidential entitlement and may carry the password towards the presidential choice, based on the international decision to prevent presidential vacancy and complete the entitlements on constitutional dates."
He noted that "none of the parties, especially the presidential team, can afford to confront and open battles on three fronts: the government front, the presidency front, and the non-renewal of sanctions front. The international will is also aiming to reach a solution to the southern border demarcation file, as U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein will convey a practical response from the Israeli side to Lebanon. Thus, the response is expected to be positive based on what he heard from the Israeli delegation assigned to negotiate border demarcation. This response may lead to a swift return to indirect negotiations in Naqoura to finalize the technical file in all its details and nuances, paving the way for both Lebanon and Israel to make the political decision."
The source concluded: "There are formal Lebanese commitments at the highest levels to facilitate the proposed solutions for the border file, as well as a commitment to conduct constitutional entitlements on their scheduled dates, just as happened in the parliamentary elections and binding parliamentary consultations, and as is expected to occur in the government formation process leading up to the presidential entitlement. Everyone knows that the international, specifically Arab, direction is to open a new page with Lebanon at the beginning of the new term, starting from the fact that the case is one of saving a nation, not fulfilling the desires and ambitions of individuals."
