Lebanon: The obstructing of the formation of a new government
A prominent political source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that the chief of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), former Minister Gebran Bassil, was remain blocking the establishment of a new government and ignoring recent European notices about imposing sanctions on Lebanese officials.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian alerted in an official communiqué last week the Lebanese officials of EU pressure if they keep obstructing government-formation after months of block.
Indeed, Le Drian alerted of identifying European Union leverage for stepping up pressure on those responsible for the deadlock, in an indication to possible sanctions. In fact, the statement came after that the French minister talked with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
As comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Lebanese political source stated that Hezbollah and other mediators talked with Bassil seeking to convince him to abandon his conditions that are obstructing the establishment of the government.
According to the source, Bassil insisted on his demands, despite some flexibility shown by Aoun with regards to the vetoing third – a flexibility that remains insufficient without the approval of the president’s son-in-law and political heir.
The source avoided answering a question about the role of Hezbollah and its willingness to pressure Bassil to soften his position. He noted however that Hariri, who conducted a short visit to the UAE earlier this week, was maintaining communication with Berri on the Government Issue.
In this regard, the political source stressed that Hariri expressed utmost flexibility to any move that would be proposed by Berri, but insisted on Aoun’s consent to drop his condition regarding obtaining the vetoing third in the government.
He also said that the premier elect would just accept raising the number of ministers from 18 to 24, as required by Aoun, if Aoun abandons his persistence on the delaying third.
According to the source, Hariri still completely committed to the road map made by French President Emmanuel Macron that demands the establishment of a government of specialists and independents who would work on a reform program as the condition to get financial and economic aid.
