“Our doubt that [Prime Minister-designate Najib] Mikati can be centrist when it comes to the issue of the [Special] Tribunal [for Lebanon (STL)] turned out to be true after Mikati showed that he cannot have a centrist [position] in the next stage,” Lebanon First bloc MP Assem Aaraji told Future News television on Sunday.
Mikat is currently “besieged” by his new allies – a reference to the March 8 coalition -, the MP said, adding that the PM-designate will reach a stage at which he sees all complications around him and will thus not be able to form a cabinet.
On talk that March 14 is delaying cabinet formation, Aaraji said “[Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel] Aoun and his political party are trying to blame another party for obstructing the cabinet formation.”
“There is an [attempt] to target President [Michel Sleiman] who is trying to be in agreement with both parties. Aoun and his party are trying to decrease [Sleiman’s] role.”
Mikati has yet to form a cabinet after the January collapse of Saad Hariri’s unity government over a dispute on the STL – investigating the 2005 murder of former PM Rafik Hariri – which will reportedly indict Hezbollah members. Last week, March 14 parties met at the Bristol Hotel in Beirut and issued a statement afterward announcing that they reject participation in his government.
Cabinet formation is reportedly being delayed by a dispute between Aoun and Sleiman over the Interior Ministry portfolio. Last week, Aoun said that Sleiman has no right to shares in the cabinet and should form his own political party if he wants to be involved in politics.
-NOW Lebanon
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