An-Nahar: Cabinet crisis enters fourth month halfway through Sleiman’s term

The political paralysis in the country has reached unprecedented levels to the extent that members both inside and outside the new majority seem close to proposing new measures for the formation of a government.

Impressions, although unannounced, point to a clear link between the cabinet crisis and events in Syria.

Those following the Cabinet formation are keeping their eye out for next week given that three symbolic dates fall on May 25: Wednesday is the anniversary of the third year since the election of President Michel Sleiman, the 11th anniversary of the liberation of the south from Israeli occupation in 2000 and also marks the fourth month of the Cabinet crisis, since the appointment of Tripoli MP Najib Mikati as prime minister-designate on Jan. 25.

Informed sources do not rule out important announcements by figures related to these dates, particularly in relation to the government crisis and Lebanon’s position vis-a-vis developments in the region. It was noteworthy that Hezbollah, over the last couple of days, has stepped up its rhetoric on the need to overcome hurdles that are obstructing the formation of the government. The same sources have told An-Nahar that this rhetoric is designed to pave the way for a speech by Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah Wednesday.

In his speech, Nassrallah is likely to firstly bring up his bring party’s stance with regard to events occurring in Syria. The speech will also contain reactions to President Barack Obama’s speech last week, whether on the issue of weapons, the Palestinian state and its borders, or his accusations that Hezbollah is involved with terrorism and assassinations. Nasrallah will also discuss the ongoing Cabinet crisis and the hurdles preventing the government’s formation.

March 8 sources have told An-Nahar that a new round of talks and visits will be launched this week to help restart Cabinet formation talks. They added that Mikati was likely to play a central role in this initiative in cooperation with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt and Hezbollah.

March 14 sources said it was unlikely that agreement would be reached on Berri’s recent call for a general session at Parliament, and warned against calls by some that one could be held even without March 14 participation, saying that such a session would be unconstitutional given that Lebanon is under a caretaker government.

Al-Joumhouria: France seeks consensus exit for Cabinet

On the margin of the Iranian and American diplomatic visits last week, French diplomatic activity in Lebanon went under the radar. French diplomatic sources told Al-Joumhouria that Alexis le Cour Grandmaison, who is in charge of North Africa and the Middle East at the French Foreign Affairs Ministry, held unannounced meetings with figures from various parties, including a delegation from Hezbollah that included Ali Fayyad, Nawwar al-Sahili and Ammar Mousawi.

Al-Joumhouria has learned that Grandmaison’s mission is part of French efforts to push the formation of a Lebanese government to be headed by a consensus candidate.

Informed sources said Paris sees that, given the dramatic developments in the region – feared to have negative repercussions for Lebanon – it is in the interest of political parties to form a national unity Cabinet to tackle such repercussions and steer the country away from any further crises.

One of Hezbollah’s deputies stressed that the meeting with Grandmaison “was based on a French diplomatic request in the context of a series of meetings that he held with various sides in Lebanon. The meeting did not hold any surprises. “

“Mr. Grandmaison was clear from the start when he stressed his willingness to listen to all the Lebanese sides … He did not come with any initiative,” he added.

Al-Balad: Mikati ‘threatens’ to take matters in his own hands and all eyes on Nasrallah

While sources close to Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said he would today resume work toward reactivating the Cabinet formation talks because the pressures brought on by regional developments no longer allow for there to be any more delays, observers are waiting to see what Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has to say Wednesday on the anniversary of Liberation Day with regard to the government formation and the developments in Lebanon’s environs.

If March 14 is remaining mum on the subject of events in Syria and is “hiding,” as is the case with caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, indications are that the March 8 forces are preparing to launch a political attack through the “tirade” of Sheikh Naim Qassem in which he described the March 14 coalition as part of the American-Israeli project.

A local television station quoted sources close to Mikati as saying that he would use all available means at his disposal to get the Cabinet formation back on the right track given “the regional and local developments that are piling pressure [on the Cabinet formation] that can no longer withstand delays.”

As-Safir: The story of the salary that is killing the middle class and marginalizing it

Many citizens called on workers in Lebanon for a nationwide strike on radio stations Sunday, demanding the government to decrease the price of fuel and control commodity prices, especially those that do not compete in a free market, but are controlled by monopoly.

They used phrases such as “open strike” and “against all leaders, MPs and ministers.”

Here are stories of Lebanese who have a college degree and preferred to stay in Lebanon rather than emigrate or become an expatriate.

The story reflects the reality of thousands of Lebanese families who struggle on a daily basis.

Both Rami Harb and Wajdi Matar regarded the formation of the new Cabinet as a useless process, saying: “It would not make a difference as long as they are the same politicians and the new Cabinet lineup would represent their interests.”

When asked about their monthly salaries, both of them laughed at the concept itself. “It’s not called a salary when it does not accommodate the rise of living in Lebanon,” Harb said.

Matar said that his salary was $3,000. The amount might be very good for some, but it was not enough for a family of five, whose daily expenses were never less than $100.

Meanwhile, Harb and his wife make around $2,000 in total but Harb asks people to loan him money on a monthly basis because their house mortgage loan is high and his two kids attend private schools, pushing them into debt.

The story of Harb and Matar is the story of many Lebanese families who live paycheck to paycheck representing Lebanon’s middle class.

If the solutions lie in the hand of a Cabinet that is struggling to form, how will it ever find solutions to solve the problems of its citizens?