While the formation of the Lebanese government seemed (again) on the verge of completion Friday with the visit of the designated Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, to Baabda, the latter left after he met with President Joseph Aoun without making a statement. According to information reported by several local media, the name of Nasser Saidi, whom the designated Prime Minister reportedly proposed to the Shiite tandem for the Administrative Reform Ministry, was not adopted.

The formation of the cabinet is hindered by the insistence of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, on behalf of the Amal-Hezbollah tandem, to have a say in the choice of the fifth Shiite minister who should obtain the portfolio of Administrative Reform.

Earlier in the day, Aoun was receiving the American emissary Morgan Ortagus. She said from Baabda that Hezbollah should not be part of the Lebanese government and that “the reign of terror” of the Shiite party “in Lebanon and around the world is over.”