A proposal for a solution that could potentially break the months-long government formation deadlock is in the works.
The solution, first proposed by Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt, consists of a 24-member Cabinet of nonpartisan specialists and no veto power for any side.
Both President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri have been made aware of this proposal but have yet to comment.
Reports are that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is striving to gain Hariri’s support for the proposal before launching the initiative. Berri is also reportedly planning on meeting with Aoun soon.
In a speech today, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah pointed out that there were serious efforts for cooperation to form a new government and to “overcome the obstacles” blocking its formation.
Nasrallah stressed the importance of forming a government, expressing that Lebanon has no time left to lose and that there must be an end to this Cabinet stalemate.
It appears that these serious efforts are being made by politicians on various sides to break the ice between Aoun and Hariri after their last failed attempt at forming a Cabinet.
This comes after threats of sanctions from the United States and Europe and pressure from Arab and foreign diplomats.
Lebanon has been without a government for over 7 months since after the Beirut blast.