Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati received by the head of the Maronite Church Bechara al-Rai in Bkirki, Dec. 12, 2022. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Monday that Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai — whom he visited the same day — told him that it would have been better "to establish a dialogue" before the meeting of his cabinet team, which has been strongly criticized by the Free Patriotic Movement and its founder, former president Michel Aoun.
"The patriarch drew my attention to the fact that it was essential to establish a dialogue before the government meeting," Mikati stressed during a press briefing at the Maronite patriarchate in Bkirki.
"I assured that I am in favor of dialogue between all parties in order to overcome this difficult period," Mikati added, as he mentioned an "agreement on holding a ministerial consultation session soon," without giving further details.
The caretaker prime minister noted that "all Lebanese confessions were represented" at the cabinet meeting last Monday. "The sectarian balance cannot be considered an excuse," he defended, in a reply to criticism last week from FPM leader Gebran Bassil.
Mikati had convened cabinet last Monday, a move that drew criticism from Bassil, who accused him of wanting to take on the powers of the head of state former president Michel Aoun's term ended Oct. 31. Mikati's initiative was also criticized by Rai, who said Friday that the meeting "should not have taken place, especially since several parties were absent."
Commenting on the government meeting, Aoun said on Friday that "the National Pact is not respected, the constitution and some rights are not respected."
"What happened on the government issue and the decrees is a blow to the Lebanese entity and the Republic and not only to the Presidency of the Republic," said Bassil, who also went to Bkirki the same day.