Speaking to journalists from the Presidential Palace, Lebanese President Michel Aoun revealed Monday that he is petitioning to end the distribution of ministries among sects.
“Only merit and competence matter,” he said.
According to the president, the Finance, Interior, Foreign, and Defense ministries should be open to all sects.
At this point in time, the government’s formation has been held up by some differences, primarily the fact that the Amal Movement and Hezbollah, two Shiite parties in Lebanon, insist on keeping their hand on the Finance Ministry in the upcoming Cabinet.
Answering a question about what would happen if a government is not formed very soon, President Aoun admitted that Lebanon would be “going to hell” – a deeper hell that we are already in, apparently.
The president did not seem optimistic a government would be formed, unless if “maybe a miracle would happen,” he said.
Tasked with forming the new government, Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib is urging political leaders to work towards the French initiative.
He stressed that more delays will exacerbate and deepen the crisis, and push people towards more poverty and the state towards more deficit.
