Rania Shakhtoura “Akhbar Al-Yawm”

 President Najib Mikati has been nominated, but before he returns to the Grand Serail as prime minister for the third time, he must overcome several challenges.

In this context, an informed source indicates that it is possible to bet on the positive sign which results in the nomination of tHezbollah bloc of Mikati, knowing that in many previous consultations, the bloc has not participated in the nomination process, and therefore it is understood that the formation of a government will be facilitated. Yet the final answer at this level remains linked to the American-Iranian negotiations taking place in Vienna.

As for the trajectory that culminated in Mikati's appointment today, the source referred to a series of grassroots meetings, including a meeting that took place between Hezbollah Liaison Officer Wafiq Safa and the Free Patriotic Movement leader Gibran Bassil. Safa conveyed his bloc's understanding of the  decision if Bassil, but at the same time asked not to appoint Ambassador Nawaf Salam and that's what happened.

The source pointed out that an attempt has been made to find a personality resembling Ambassador Mustafa Adeeb, but also has no chance of success. 

The same source considers the most striking meeting  took place at the level of former heads of government. And Siniora was the strictest personality, and he demanded that the training period be 15 days, this which was specifically rejected by Hariri and Tammam Salam, and therefore, they agreed during the meeting held yesterday, that the time period be one month. The other points discussed can be summarized as follows:

- That Mikati keeps Prime Minister Hariri informed.

- Do not give up the points that Hariri did not agree to give up during the nine months of training, whether with regard to the constitution or to the powers.

It added:  Bassil, during his meeting with Mikati, requested the Ministries of Interior and Energy.

He also notes that President Michel Aoun will try to obtain the Ministries of Defense and the Interior, for which he will propose to appoint a Sunni personality.

In response to a question, the source said: Mikati will not give up, and so we could return to the same dead end.

In light if that, we ask: “which government are we talking about”? The source therefore raises several questions: is the finance ministry unconditionally for the Shiites? What about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the recent embarrassment? Will the Future Movement participate and what ministries will it receive? The Bloc of Bassil   which has not appointed Mikati, what ministries will it demand, knowing that so far it is clinging to the Ministry of Energy?

The source concludes: “On Wednesday evening, Bassil will appear in a television interview, during which he will outline the limits of these demands and his vision of the government.