Report: New govt. expected by next week at the latest

The formation of the new government has become imminent and the line-up will be officially announced next week at the latest, a media report said on Thursday.

“The cabinet format needs some final touches that are awaiting PM-designate Najib Mikati’s return from New York,” al-Joumhouria newspaper quoted informed sources as saying.

The sources also added that 20 out of 24 ministers in the caretaker cabinet will remain unchanged in the new line-up and that the ministers who will be changed are caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam, caretaker Minister of the Displaced Issam Sharafeddine, caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil and a “Christian minister.”