Basil Conditions Appointments and Naturalization Decree

The two main issues awaiting resolution after achieving agreement among the active political parties are the presidential election and the formation of the government. There is still no consensus among the factions regarding a qualified candidate for the presidential position, with the March 8 coalition not having designated its candidate yet, and the opposition has not unified behind Michel Moawad's name, indicating that this file is postponed. On the government front, after some progress made a few days ago, the atmosphere became clouded again, and the formation is no longer guaranteed before the end of the term. Political sources revealed that the conditions set by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement, MP Gebran Bassil, go beyond changing some ministers; he demands the inclusion of two fundamental points: the naturalization decree, which both Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi previously rejected, in addition to the issue of appointments in numerous positions and administrations, considering this to be the crux of the problem and the governmental deadlock. In this context, member of the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, MP Alan Aoun, indicated that there are "no confirmations regarding Prime Minister Najib Mikati's visit to Baabda Palace, and the file is contingent on the convergence of the perspectives of both parties, President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, regarding the government formation, as the former wants to develop the current formation, while the latter prefers to maintain the existing structure, awaiting a coherent vision." In an interview with the electronic newspaper "Al-Anbaa," Aoun expressed hope for forming a government before the end of the term, but at the same time pointed out that "there are no expectations, pending the arrival at a common denominator between the two parties involved in the formation."