Recent reports over attempts by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah’s leadership and General Security Head General Abbas Ibrahim to break the stalemate in the issue of the government’s formation do not reflect the reality on ground.
There is no communication between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri, despite Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rai’s continuous calls for the two to meet and reach an understanding.
Notably, Rai insists that the ball is now in Aoun's court, who has not been responsive so far.
Informed sources have told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun’s adviser and former minister Salim Jreissati has been tasked with meeting Rai after the latter held a phone call with Aoun, asking him to invite Hariri to discuss the government's formation.
The sources said that Rai is still hoping that the president will rise above his personal disputes because removing the obstacles that prevent the government’s formation is in his interest, especially given Hariri’s adequate reaction to the leaked video in which Aoun accuses him of lying.
It is against Aoun’s interest for the last third of his term to continue to be drained, especially that every day that goes by without a government exacerbates the severe social and economic crisis in Lebanon, the sources noted.
Jreissati, for his part, responded positively to Rai’s arguments, affirming that it is not right for Lebanon to stay without a government in light of the changes sweeping through the region and with Biden’s ascension to the White House.
However, the sources said that the political decision is not Jreissati’s to make, in reference to Aoun and FPM leader Deputy Gebran Bassil. The latter and his political group are determined to prevent Hariri from forming a government, despite Rai’s insistence that the prime minister-designate should not step down.
Recently, Rai also met the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon Yasser Al-Alawi who warned that a govt. vacuum will waste all efforts made to save Lebanon and win the trust of the Lebanese people and the international community.
In this context, the sources said that if Aoun refuses to make a move, although he insulted Hariri, it will discourage others from launching initiatives and mediation efforts, regardless of rumors about the willingness of this or that party to intervene.
Berri has headed to his house in the south, not because he is unwilling to intervene to salvage the govt. formation process, but because there is no room to make moves so long as Aoun refuses to budge from the demands which Hariri cannot accept.
Ibrahim and Hezbollah are in a similar position. The former offered to mediate between the two sides when he met with Hariri, who said was awaiting for Aoun’s response. Hezbollah’s leadership, on the other hand, is wary of taking the initiative because they want to avoid putting Aoun and Bassil in an awkward position.
