President Michel Aoun is still insisting on “his right to name the Druze and Sunni ministers who will replace Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine and Economy Minister Amin Salam,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.
“This may reflect a difficulty that is still obstructing the announcement of the formation of a new government,” the daily added.
“The past two days did not carry anything new as to the naming, at a time the name of ex-minister Saleh al-Gharib moved to the backburner, seeing as it is not appropriate to name a figure who would provoke Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat,” al-Akhbar quoted informed sources as saying.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper meanwhile reported that Hezbollah has strongly intervened to mediate between Baabda and the Grand Serail and that Hezbollah secretary-general’s political aide Hussein al-Khalil has met with PM-designate Najib Mikati to “stress the need to form a new government no matter what it takes.”
“Hezbollah also communicated with President Aoun in a bid to ease his stance,” the daily added.
Official political sources directly concerned with the governmental file also told al-Joumhouria that Paris has also intervened through its ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo, who “has relayed an urgent request to Lebanese leaders on the necessity to form a government in an urgent manner.”