Until last night, meetings were ongoing between mediators and both the designated president and Bassil. The last 24 hours indicated a "childishness" dominating all communication aimed at reaching an agreement on a formation to be announced within two days, as desired by the mediators. To the extent that one of those involved in the communications stated that yesterday ended with nothing due to the cat-and-mouse game characterizing the positions of the two main parties. Sources concerned with the formation said, "We are facing critical hours that will determine the fate of the entire country," amidst estimates that do not underestimate the difficulty of the formation, especially since discussions have confirmed that "nothing has changed in the handling of the file since two months ago." The same sources stated that "the party and General Ibrahim deliberately announced the consultations and showcased the communications and meetings for two purposes: first, to confirm the serious effort that has been resumed, and second, to lift the accusation of obstruction if there is no agreement between Bassil and Mikati."
The new round of negotiations began with a meeting between the political aide of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Haj Hussein Khalil, and President Mikati, followed by communication between Mikati and General Ibrahim. Mikati presented his proposed changes, stating that he wanted to remove three ministers: Finance Minister Youssef Khalil at the request of President Nabih Berri, Minister Issam Sharafeddine with whom he disagrees on everything, and Minister Amin Salam because he wants to change the work in the Ministry of Economy and prefers to give the seat to one of the Sunni members of the Akkar bloc. He was then told that this change necessitates the change of three Christian ministers, which is what Bassil demands. Mikati agreed but stated that he wanted to change Energy Minister Walid Fayad who "does not manage this sensitive ministry well," and also Minister Najla Riachi, leaving Bassil to choose the third minister. Bassil responded that it does not work this way. If Mikati is concerned with changing the three Muslim ministers in cooperation with Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, then the change of the three Christian ministers is the prerogative of President Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement, and he has no relation to who he suggests to remove and who should be named as a replacement. Bassil indicated that he agrees to change ministers Riachi and Abdallah Bou Habib, but does not want any change for Fayad, perhaps preferring to change Minister Walid Nassar, asserting that he is the one who selects the replacements. When asked about the alternative names, he said he would submit them to President Aoun, who would allocate them on the day President Mikati comes with the new list. Mikati rejected this, stating that he does not want Fayad to remain in the Ministry of Energy, indicating that he accepts the naming of a substitute minister from Bassil's side but wants the names before going to the presidential palace because he is the one who forms the line-up before discussing it with President Aoun.
Sources spoke of an additional problem represented by Bassil announcing that he would not grant the government confidence even if his demand for changes in ministers is met, justifying that the Prime Minister is obligated to make changes as he wants. Bassil surprised the mediators by informing them that Mikati is negotiating with him through another channel, which is Minister Nassar, who told him that Mikati does not mind if the Free Patriotic Movement does not grant confidence to the new government. When the mediators brought this up to the Prime Minister, he denied that he had asked Nassar to mediate but said that Nassar came to him tasked by Bassil.
In the most recent communication that occurred in the afternoon, the sources said the mediators felt frustrations due to the mutual blame game between both parties, especially since after the meeting that gathered Bassil, General Ibrahim, and the liaison and coordination officer in Hezbollah, Wafiq Safa, at the National Movement’s office, it was agreed on "Bassil's acceptance to change three Christian ministers: Abdallah Bou Habib, Najla Riachi, and Walid Nassar, without naming politicians," but he conditioned communication with the Tashnak party, which also wants to change its minister in the government, George Bouchikian, as it wants to separate parliamentary work from ministerial work, proposing the name of former Tourism Minister Odeis Kidanian. Thus, the number of Christian ministers to be replaced becomes four instead of three, which Mikati did not agree to. Additionally, Mikati insists on removing the Minister of Energy or at least transferring him to another ministry, which Bassil absolutely rejects.
In this context, notable sources considered "that we are still in the first square, contrary to all the positive marketing; so far, there has been no agreement on changes in portfolios or the number of ministers, and if the mediators succeed in bridging the viewpoints, we will face the problem of names, which is another issue that has not yet been discussed in depth and could take longer." The "difficulties that hinder agreement on the government also extend to the names, reinforcing the hypothesis that it may not be formed."
