Lebanese Dailies: Government Formation on Normal Track, Miqati Tries Convincing March 14 to Take Part in Government

Local Editor

The formation of a Lebanese Salvation Government is still awaited by the people of the country.

In light of the crucial events taking part in the region, including Tunisia and Egypt, Lebanon is taking its time with the formation of its government; so that it would be finalized with the national touch of premier-designate Najib Miqati.

According to sources close to PM Miqati, An-Nahar daily mentioned that there is no rush into assigning a date for the formation of the government.

The sources added that the formation operation is on its normal track, and it relies on the results of the constant communication between both teams, hoping they would result in forming a government that includes all parties.

An-Nahar sources referred that the government's final stage hasn't been decided yet, and it also relies on current efforts, especially with the March 14 coalition, trying to convince its members in participating in the new government.

Furthermore, the sources stated that the formation consultations started four days ago, and as they go on, they cannot be compared to any past governments' formations, which some needed months to be formed.

On another hand, Al Liwaa newspaper reported, according to sources close to Head of National Struggle Front MP Walid Jumblatt, that the new government will come to act after February 14, and before the indictment's issuance.

Sources added that the new government will be formed of technocrat figures with political characteristic, and will be broad.

On his part, Premier-designate Najib Miqati told Al Hayat newspaper that what he is concerned with is to reach a comfortable government, no matter when it was achieved. PM Miqati added he will consult with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman before issuing the formation results, affirming that it is not the issue of speeding up the operation or slowing it down.

In the same context, Al Binaa newspaper sources confirmed that PM Miqati has focused in the past couple of days on consulting with March 14 coalition to convince them to take part in the government to be formed.

According to political sources, the daily pointed out that March 14 coalition is blackmailing the premier designate, telling him, in the context of participating in the government, that he should not interfere in the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

Al Binaa sources added that if the March 14 coalition had to participate in the government, then it should have to abide by the Saudi-Syrian agreement articles regarding the STL.
Therefore, the daily referred, it is most likely March 14 would refuse to participate, although some parties in the coalition had the intention to take part.