Lebanese President Michel Aoun meets with then-Prime Minister Najib Mikati the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Jan. 5, 2022. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — President Michel Aoun met with Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati Friday to discuss the proposed names for the formation of the next government.
Here’s what we know:
• Another meeting will be held at the beginning of next week, to complete the consultations.
• The proposed cabinet which was leaked on Wednesday, would renew the terms of most ministers in the current caretaker administration, with the exception of caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayad, caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil, caretaker Minister for the Displaced Issam Charafeddine and caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam.
• According to the leaked list, caretaker Energy Minister Walid Fayad, who is from Aoun’s share in the former government, has been replaced by oil and gas engineer Walid Sinno, while the Finance Minister seat has been replaced with former 30-year MP Yassine Jaber.
• The non-binding parliamentary consultations that led to these developments, started Monday and took two days were boycotted by several parties, in particular the Lebanese Forces, the Progressive Socialist Party, the Kataeb, opposition MPs and Michel Mouawad’s bloc.