Al-Jazeera correspondent in Beirut quoted informed sources that Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati completed - yesterday, Thursday - a distribution of names and ministerial portfolios, as part of the initial government formula, the details of which he will discuss with President Michel Aoun.
The sources following up on the talks between the two parties indicated that this initial formula of the government does not give any political group what is described as the blocking third.
According to these sources, Aoun and Mikati are currently working on finding ways to overcome the last obstacles related to a limited number of ministerial portfolios and those who hold them, especially the Ministry of Justice.
Aoun had received Mikati yesterday, Thursday, and followed up with him the path of forming a government, according to a statement issued by the Presidency of the Republic.
"God willing, God is good," said Mikati upon his departure.
It is noteworthy that former Prime Minister Najib Mikati was assigned last July 26 to form the new government, after parliamentary consultations conducted by the President of the Republic, during which the Prime Minister-designate received 72 votes of the votes of the deputies.
Mikati's meetings with the President of the Republic did not result in announcing the formation of the government, despite spreading a positive atmosphere regarding the possibility of issuing the formation soon.
Assigning a new prime minister to form a government for the third time comes after two former presidents-designate apologized for forming it, since the resignation of Hassan Diab's government on August 10, 2020 against the background of the explosion that rocked the port of Beirut.
worry and warning
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his deep concern about the deteriorating economic and social situation in Lebanon, and called on "all political leaders to urgently form an effective national unity government."
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Lebanon urgently needs to form a government, "to achieve justice and accountability and alleviate (suffering) ... and lead an ambitious and effective path to reform, in order to restore access to basic services, restore stability, support sustainable development and stimulate hope for a better future."
In the same context, the European Union Ambassador in Beirut said that the European Union is deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of the Lebanese crisis, and has informed the Lebanese leaders that the time for action has run out, and urged them to form a government.
Ambassador Ralph Tarraf conveyed an urgent message from the EU's foreign policy chief to President Aoun, in which he stated, "We are deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of the economic, financial, security and social crisis."
He added that the European Union continues to provide great assistance to the Lebanese people, but the Lebanese decision-makers who failed to agree on forming a new government over a year need to live up to their responsibilities, adding that there is no more time left.
Last week, an international support group comprising France and the United States said the accelerating crisis underscores the urgent need to form a government capable of taking charge.