Head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Gebran Bassil has anew accused Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati of obstructing the government formation.
In an interview, he said that Mikati wants to give the caretaker government presidential powers.
“He intentionally submitted a line-up that he knows the President will refuse,” Bassil added and threatened to start a major confrontation to prevent giving the caretaker cabinet the powers of the president.
Bassil suggested three alternatives to avoid giving the cabinet the president’s power.
One of them is that President Michel Aoun would stay in his post if a new government is not formed, which Bassil said he does not support.
The other two options are withdrawing the designation from PM Mikati or considering forming another government.
He added that his FPM party is ready to agree on a president and support him in order to prevent the vacancy in Baabda, but that his party will not accept a “confrontational” candidate that Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea had called for.
“This will never happen,” Bassil said.
“The next President must be representative or supported by parties who enjoy popular representation,” he added. “But we will not accept a president who will be imposed on us.”
He also said that he does not support electing al-Marada chief Suleiman Franjieh, although he has nothing personal against him.
Bassil went on to say that France is suggesting candidates and that he refuses international intervention, whether from France, the U.S., or Iran.
Related: Presidential Vacancy In Lebanon Is A Great Possibility Amid Struggle To Form A New Government.
