No Progress in Government Formation as March 8 Sources Says Cabinet Won’t be Established Soon

Sources close to Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati revealed that a positive atmosphere is accompanying the government formation process.

They told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in remarks published on Sunday: “New ideas were proposed during the meeting held between Speaker Nabih Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s advisor Hussein Khalil.”

They added however: “This does not mean that absolute positive factors are available.”

“The regional situation requires all concerned sides to speed up and intensify their contacts,” they noted.

In addition, they should work on bolstering national unity in order to form a government that could take the necessary measures to control the internal scene and maintain stability.

The sources denied media reports that a solution to the dispute over the Interior Ministry has been reached, saying: “Most reports about this issue have been inaccurate, especially since this matter is still being studied like all others.”

Meanwhile, Change and Reform bloc sources told the daily that MP Michel Aoun is still insisting that he has the exclusive right to name the Interior Minister, “because he is the Maronites’ number one representative in parliament.”

He also rejected the possibility of President Michel Suleiman naming the minister or offering Aoun several candidates from which to choose from.

March 8 camp Christian sources told Asharq al-Awsat: “The government won’t be formed any time soon.”

“We can’t speak of any progress, but of regression,” they stressed.

In a related development, al-Manar TV reported that Nasrallah telephoned Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to discuss the government formation process.