BEIRUT: Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan will not attend Tuesday’s Parliament session in his capacity as minister of state, as President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati have yet to decide whether to accept his resignation from the post.

Sleiman and Mikati discussed the situation in Lebanon Monday, one day before the start of parliamentary meetings to debate the Cabinet’s policy statement, ahead of a vote of confidence.

Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled three days of parliamentary debate on the policy statement, beginning July 5 and including evening sessions, with the apparent aim of bringing about a quick vote of confidence.

A source close to Mikati said Sleiman and the prime minister have discussed Arslan’s resignation but have not decided whether to accept it and appoint a replacement.

Discussions are still taking place and could go in either direction, the source said.

Sources close to the president had told The Daily Star earlier Monday that a presidential decree is expected to be issued soon naming Marwan Kheireddine as the new minister of state.

Kheireddine, a member of the politburo of the Lebanese Democratic Party, which Arslan heads, is also Arslan’s brother-in-law.

Arslan signaled his resignation just hours after Mikati’s Cabinet was announced on June 13, in an expression of dissatisfaction over not being chosen as defense minister.

A senior official in the Lebanese Democratic Party had told The Daily Star last month that Arslan’s resignation was final. “Revoking his resignation is out of the question,” said the party’s secretary general, Walid Barakat.

Arslan had accused Mikati of “lying and piracy” during talks on the Cabinet’s formation, but later apologized for verbally attacking the prime minister.

It is still unknown whether Arslan will grant the government his vote of confidence in his capacity as Aley MP.