A new government enjoying full constitutional powers will be formed soon and only four incumbent ministers will be changed, a senior political source said.
“The reshuffle will involve four ministers from the Christian, Sunni, Shiite and Druze sects,” the source told al-Joumhouria newspaper in remarks published Monday.
Al-Akhbar newspaper meanwhile reported that “political leaders have unanimously agreed that there has been a tangible change in PM-designate Najib Mikati’s approach towards the governmental file, amid expectations that, should some obstacles be resolved, the new government will be formed in around a week.”
“There is serious progress this time … and Mikati might return to Beirut from London… before traveling to New York to take part in the works of the U.N. General Assembly, in order to declare the formation of his government on September 24 or 25,” informed sources told al-Akhbar.
The daily added that Hezbollah “led a mediation between President Michel Aoun and PM-designate Najib Mikati in order to reconcile viewpoints and convince them to ease their conditions.”
Media reports meanwhile said that the reshuffle will target Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine and Economy Minister Amin Salam. Other reports said the change will also involve Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Energy Minister Walid Fayyad.