The caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has decided to navigate a "minefield" by calling for a government session next Monday under the title of "Approval of Necessities." The agenda includes vital issues related to medicine and workers in the public sector, in addition to settling external dues and other items. Mikati had prepared the atmosphere for such a session a few days ago to gauge the pulse; this was reflected in the statement from the Free Patriotic Movement, which rejected holding sessions and emphasized that the priority should be electing a president for the republic. Notably, this movement itself votes blank and causes a lack of quorum in the electoral sessions.
Eyes will be on the ministers affiliated with the Free Patriotic Movement and whether they will attend or refrain from participating in the session. If they decide to stay away, alongside ministers close to the movement, like the Minister of Displaced Persons Issam Sharafeddine, the session could lose its quorum due to the absence of 8 ministers. In that case, Mikati's call would fail, and the political confrontation between him and the movement would intensify.
However, the Free Patriotic Movement has not yet made its decision. In this context, member of the "Strong Lebanon" bloc, MP Assad Dergham, pointed out that "the movement will assess the 'necessities' included by Mikati in the session's agenda to determine its course of action." He noted that some issues can be resolved with just the presence of the caretaker Prime Minister, the relevant minister, and the Minister of Finance, and do not require a government session.
Dergham indicated in a conversation with "Anbaa" that a clear position will be issued by the Free Patriotic Movement regarding the session, which will consequently determine whether the ministers will participate or not, affecting the session's quorum as well. Nevertheless, the movement's principled stance is not to participate.
Former MP Ali Darwish emphasized the importance of the "essential and living" items outlined in the Council of Ministers' agenda. He stressed that everyone should attend the session as it directly relates to people's affairs. Based on this principle, he believed that "each party is responsible for its decision before the people concerning participation or non-participation."
In his talk with "Anbaa," Darwish noted that "principally, the Free Patriotic Movement alone opposes holding sessions, waiting for its position to decide the next steps. If it does not attend for political reasons despite the importance of the agenda items, it should bear responsibility before the people." He expressed hope that Mikati's call would be heeded, leading to everyone's attendance.
It is essential for the Council of Ministers to hold a session to manage the basic affairs of citizens, especially since there are necessities that cannot wait until the presidential election, which seems somewhat distant. Tying the sessions to the completion of the presidential elections would be tantamount to delivering a fatal blow to the already impoverished citizens.
