Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati was surprised during his last meeting with President Michel Aoun by the latter’s demand of a share of 12 ministers, or half of the ministerial portfolios, political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
According to the sources, Aoun’s new conditions have returned the government formation negotiations to square one, noting that the president stipulated that there would be no possibility to resume the talks unless Mikati agreed to his demand.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Paris was forced to intervene, warning that hindering the formation process would force it to take an irreversible stance towards the political team affiliated with Aoun, starting with the head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) and the president’s son-in-law, MP Gebran Bassil.
Paris is directly keeping pace with the recent developments, the sources stressed, given that French Ambassador Anne Grillo is on annual leave.
Consequently, Aoun was forced, under pressure from Paris, to maintain the channels of communication with Mikati and sent Bassil to meet with the premier-designate.
The sources stressed that Bassil is planning from now to control the government, even if it means obstructing its productivity, should his demands remain unmet. Aoun’s son-in-law wants to have the last say in the government, otherwise he will seek to disrupt its ability to make any efficient decision.
Bassil had previously announced that he will not be part of the government.
This has not deterred him from attempting to impose his influence and seek to become a partner in decisions it takes. Otherwise, he would be forced to thwart it from taking any decision, said the sources.
Aoun is blindly following his son-in-law, paving the way for him to not only control half the government, but to seize service portfolios that would improve his image ahead of next year’s elections, which perhaps will restore his chances of running for president.
Therefore, if Aoun does not change his position, it will be as if he wants to use all his political weight to serve Bassil’s electoral ambitions.
