The government of President Najib Mikati is acting as though the period it can remain in a caretaker capacity is lengthy, amidst increasing challenges and concerns, whether regarding international or regional agreements and understandings, particularly following the visit to Iraq and restoring the significance of agreements related to supplying Lebanon with oil derivatives necessary for Electricité du Liban. This matter was discussed by President Mikati with the Minister of Energy and Water Walid Fayyad and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Electricité du Liban Kamal Hayek at the Grand Serail, focusing on the positive results of the visit and the necessary payments to the Iraqi Republic in exchange for oil for electricity, according to "Al-Liwaa."
The government also faces challenges from ongoing demands for settlements or arrangements regarding salaries and wages, taking into account the discrepancies between the categories of senior and junior employees in service or retirees. There have been rumors about adding two salaries to compensations instead of the originally proposed nine salaries being multiplied by eleven, starting from next October. This has been rejected by the public sector and retirees. An organization of retired military personnel called for readiness for what it termed a seismic movement at the first Cabinet session that does not include a settlement on salaries and wages.
A ministerial source revealed that communications are ongoing to sign a decree for the Chief of Staff in accordance with legal procedures, specifically from Defense Minister Maurice Salim, but the effort has not yet reached a conclusion.
In the presidential sphere, the distance between political blocs remains the dominant situation, given these blocs' eagerness to consider their proposals as if they hold the upper hand in the battle to find a new president of the republic, amidst calls to reject any presidential or governmental settlement and search for the unknown, leaning toward what might be called civil disobedience or a move towards the disintegration of the state and its institutions, or whatever remains of these institutions that provide services to all citizens from various groups and sects combined.
Opposition MPs continued their meetings in Parliament, as MPs Ghassan Hasbani, Elias Hankash, and Michel Dougheh met yesterday morning with independent MPs Iheb Matar and Jean Talouzyan, as well as Industry Minister and MP George Boushkian, followed by MP Jamil al-Sayyid, who noted a contradiction between the opposition initiative and Speaker Nabih Berri's proposal, pointing out that current regional conditions will not lead to the election of a president in the upcoming or current period.
In this context, the President of the Kataeb Party, MP Sami Gemayel, stated that he is not opposed to dialogue as long as it does not have an official character. He said: "We are not against dialogue, and within the opposition and outside it, we call for facilitating consultations, but without it taking on an official character, so the rules of the election are not altered."
In the south, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti indicated that his forces are working to reduce tensions at the border between Lebanon and Israel, according to "Al-Liwaa."
