Government in the Last Quarter Hour?!

Informed political sources indicated that this week is crucial for the formation of the government in terms of determining its fate, noting a return to the tone of a last-minute government if the efforts of mediators prove fruitful. In this context, political sources mentioned that no progress has been made in the formation of the new government, and efforts have stalled at the last draft reached last Wednesday, following a series of calls and consultations conducted by mediators. This draft involved replacing 6 ministers from the caretaker government—3 Christians and 3 Muslims—but its implementation has faltered due to the insistence of "the Free Patriotic Movement" leader, MP Gebran Bassil, on handing over the names of the ministers affiliated with the president and "the movement" to the designated prime minister at the presidential palace at the time of formation. Bassil's refusal to grant the "movement" bloc confidence in the anticipated government led the designated prime minister to reject this method, which contradicts constitutional formation principles. Legislative sources classified this behavior as an attempt by Bassil to obstruct the formation of a new government, reflecting his unwillingness to form a government outside his public and implicit ambitions of achieving a blocking third for his party. From the sources' perspective, the issue of government formation has begun a countdown journey and is almost closing the formation process entirely, with the expiration of President Michel Aoun’s term approaching, without showing a genuine desire from all parties, particularly "Hezbollah," to exert effective pressure on Mikati and Bassil to overcome their disagreements to establish the new government before Aoun leaves the Baabda Palace.