Sources have predicted that Prime Minister Nagib Mikati will set a date for a Cabinet meeting at the end of this week or at the latest, the beginning of next week, upon his return from London. In this context, former MP Ali Darwish explained in an interview with "Anbaa" electronic newspaper that it is expected that on the first working day of this year, Mikati will outline the agenda for the Cabinet session to approve the files that were postponed and not approved at the end of 2023. He anticipated that the item related to appointing the Chief of Staff and the military council could be on the agenda, but he did not confirm its approval during the session, as it remains uncertain whether it will be held in full or if the process will take time since things have yet to be clarified, though anything is possible.
Darwish mentioned that there is a desire among political forces to cool the internal atmosphere regarding all issues and to genuinely seek political calm, as there are several milestones that need to be implemented, foremost of which is the presidential file and the appointment of the military council. In his view, the election of a president would help stabilize institutions and execute reforms in required areas such as capital control, all of which remain postponed due to their connection with the presidential file.
On another note, Darwish pointed out that the visit of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Taymour Jumblatt to Bnachii and his meeting with the head of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh, confirms that there is a desire among political figures for dialogue, as initiatives of this kind ease tensions and assist in rapprochement, potentially creating a new atmosphere to achieve all pending matters. Amid these developments, the political forces have no choice but to decide and proceed with electing a president to prevent Lebanon from becoming vulnerable, as the threat of sliding into an expansive war could arise at any moment.
