PM Najib Miqati is reportedly seeking to win the approval of Speaker Nabih Berri, ex-PM Saad Hariri, Hizbullah and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat for the sacking of State Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat, in order to pave the way for an “uncertain deal” with President Michel Aoun, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Free Patriotic Movement head Jebran Bassil.
The deal would also involve the firing of Higher Judicial Council chief Judge Suheil Abboud, “which would make everyone a winner,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.
“The camp that wants to get rid of Oueidat would win due to the latter’s refusal to shelve the investigations in the file of the (central bank) governor and the banks, and the camp that wants to get rid of Abboud would win due to the latter’s political and presidential ambitions and his role in covering up for the violations of Beirut port bombing investigative judge Tarek Bitar,” the daily said.
“Miqati’s action this time is motivated by Oueidat’s rebellion in the file of banks and he enjoys the cover of ex-PM Saad Hariri,” unnamed sources told al-Akhbar, noting that “there are contacts in this regards that have not yet reached a conclusion.”
The daily for its part said that there is a “near-final agreement between Berri and Miqati” in this regard, noting that MP Ali Hassan Khalil had visited the premier several days ago.
Al-Akhbar also said that “Miqati is accusing Oueidat of playing a role in a memo that was sent from Lebanon to France and consequently to Monaco, which resulted in a judicial cooperation request related to the file of the properties of the Miqati family in Monaco.”
Informed sources meanwhile told the daily that the consultations are not expected to lead to a deal, noting that “the outcome of any consultations with Miqati cannot be predicted because he does not commit to what he says.”