The media office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated that "the Free Patriotic Movement" continues, as usual, "to release media balloons to divert attention from the real crisis represented by the failure to elect a new president for the republic, and the Movement's obstructive role in this regard." It also pointed to the Movement's inability to justify its logic of not participating in Cabinet meetings to manage the country's affairs under the pretext of preserving the president's powers while simultaneously demanding the government to fully assume its responsibilities and request the inclusion of items on the Cabinet agenda.
In this context, the media office denied "the allegations of the Free Patriotic Movement" that the Prime Minister agreed to pay the financial aid for Syrian refugees in US dollars at the request of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. It clarified that these funds have been transferred in dollars since previous governments, and the Prime Minister's office has no authority over this matter. It noted that ministers from the Movement actively participate in meetings held by the Prime Minister with international organizations and are aware of the magnitude of the problems and complexities surrounding this issue, which intertwines internal factors with international and Arab considerations.
The statement added: "The attempt to delve into this file to undermine the government or to create a tense and inciting atmosphere will not yield any benefit. Instead of launching false accusations, it is more beneficial for everyone to cooperate with the government in an effort to reach a solution in coordination with the concerned countries and organizations. Discussions are still ongoing with the relevant international bodies on this matter, which the ministers of the Movement are aware of."
It also highlighted that all the provocative steps taken by the Movement previously, along with the conferences it held, have remained within the framework of mere media hype.
Furthermore, it stated: "The claim by the Free Patriotic Movement that the Prime Minister is yielding to foreign demands to keep the refugees in Lebanon is merely a fabrication that has no relation to reality, especially since the Movement, which is effectively tasked with the refugee file, knows the complexities involved and the impossibility of resolving it through a unilateral Lebanese decision."
Regarding the Movement's statements about the Prime Minister's role in a potential international classification of Lebanon in the gray area, the media office confirmed that this assertion is entirely false. "What the Prime Minister and the government are doing is trying to maintain the functioning of state institutions while waiting for the election of a president. Here, it is relevant to question the Movement: Is the speculation about Lebanon being placed on the gray list due to the current government's efforts to maintain the country and the reform projects it has approved, which are awaiting final approval per parliamentary procedures, or as a result of the build-up of actions taken in previous years where the Movement was a key partner in decisions, during a term that lasted six years and even before that in legislative and executive authorities?"
Lastly, the statement emphasized that if the Movement is to apply its "logic" regarding the issue of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, the "Movement leadership" should be reminded of the previous administration's essential role in extending the Governor's term.
The statement concluded: "The law stipulates procedures to address the issue of the Central Bank Governor, so the Movement, through its minister who speaks on justice, should provide us with a legal opinion that permits taking appropriate measures against the Central Bank Governor, contrary to what he stated in the last consultative meeting, instead of limiting itself to constructive statements and ineffective media smoke bombs aimed at obscuring the truth."
