Berri: Miqati Should Have Week or 2 to Seek for March 14’s Participation in Cabinet

Speaker Nabih Berri said he told PM-designate Najib Miqati that the March 8 forces would facilitate the government formation process that should not take more than a week or two if former Premier Saad Hariri’s camp wants to take part in the new cabinet.

In remarks to An Nahar and As Safir newspapers published Friday, Berri said the government should be formed “as soon as possible” to give the green light to projects that would help the Lebanese overcome their crises.

He expected the real process of cabinet formation to take place during the weekend, stressing that Miqati should have maximum a week or two to convince the March 14 forces to participate in the national unity government.

“If Miqati failed in this effort, we would have the following options: A pure technocrat government, or a mixed technocrat-politicians cabinet,” Berri said.

The speaker also lauded Miqati, former Premier Omar Karami and MPs Mohammed Safadi and Ahmed Karami for their “political courage” and their prevention of Sunni-Shiite sedition.