Lebanese PM-Designate meets President, says he wants more time to form government

Once again, optimism that the cabinet would see light very soon did not triumph…

On Thursday, Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati announced after meeting President Michel Sleiman that the two agreed to give themselves more time before revealing the new government.

"After consulting with the President, we decided to wait in order for the government to live up to the Lebanese people's expectations," he said from the Baabda presidential palace. "We aspire for it to represent stability in Lebanon and avert strife among the Lebanese," he continued.

"We want it to be formed based on the constitution, because we cannot rely on unstable political foundations," he stressed.

"I urge the Lebanese to be patient with us … and I hope that we will announce the new government soon," the prime minister-designate said.

"We will not despair and we acknowledge the rights of parliamentary blocs to demand certain representation in Cabinet, but the President and I are entitled to our constitutional right that this government should represent all Lebanese," Miqati stressed.

Asked after the talks if he objected to Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's acquiring of certain portfolios, he replied: "I want to assure that I did not get involved in any dispute with any side during the past three months."

"I did not place a veto on anyone and I only seek to achieve national interests," he highlighted.