The prospects for forming the new government of the current term are rising, as the elements for its birth have been completed unless an obstacle appears in the final hours to prevent it. President Najib Mikati has promised that next time he will sleep in Baabda Palace and will not leave until the government is formed. This declaration of intent is not enough to confirm that the government has been born, and in the style of President Nabih Berri, "don't say it's done until it's done," especially since the remaining time of President Michel Aoun's term no longer allows the luxury of waiting and procrastination. There are also constitutional deadlines for issuing formation decrees, drafting the ministerial statement, and obtaining confidence.
So what does the constitution say? The head of the JUSTICIA rights organization, lawyer Dr. Paul Marqas, clarified in an interview with MTV that, in principle, "until the last day of the presidential term, it is possible to issue a government formation decree and all necessary decrees that coincide with it, as long as the term has not ended, provided there is an agreement between the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister on its formation, regardless of the time required to prepare the ministerial statement and obtain parliamentary confidence, even if the presidential term has ended."
But what if the government is formed and the decrees are issued during the last ten days of October, when the Parliament transforms into an electoral body tasked with electing a new president? Marqas says: "In this case, the confidence session would take place after the election if the election occurs within the last ten days of the presidential term."
However, the aim of forming the government, according to the faction calling for its formation, especially the Free Patriotic Movement and Hezbollah, is to not hand over the country to a caretaker government after Aoun's term ends. Thus, a fully legitimate government is needed, and consequently, the government will need to gain confidence before Aoun leaves the presidential palace, i.e., before entering the last ten days of October. Although Marqas states that "as long as the government formation decree is signed by the outgoing president, there is no barrier to holding a confidence session even in the absence of the presidency, God forbid," the question remains: will the President consume time until the last moment, or will he insist on obtaining confidence in his days and capturing a commemorative image with it as well?
Thus, next week will be pivotal regarding the sincerity of government intentions and may witness the government’s cesarean birth, especially since minor amendments will be made to the names that will not exceed a handful.
