An:Nahar: Whirlpool of complexities: majority threatens majority and talks halted over sixth Sunni [seat]

Just like Lebanon was sucked into a whirlpool of complexity as a result of the "obstacle" due to Gen. Michel Aoun’s demands - which took three out of nearly five months before it was finally resolved – we fear being sucked into the same whirlpool – this time with another “obstacle:” the sixth Sunni Cabinet seat, the third Druze portfolio and perhaps the third Roman Catholic seat as well.

This was perhaps reflected by the rise of the political bickering within some forces of the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition – a kind of tug-of-war between Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati and Hezbollah over the sixth Sunni seat. The bickering also came after Aoun’s demands were in principle solved and the sixth Maronite seat was no longer a point of dispute pending President Michel Sleiman naming his candidate for the seat.

Information made available to An-Nahar said the new crisis strongly emerged over the weekend when contacts were paralyzed and shuttling diplomacy by Nasrallah’s and Berri’s political aides – Hassan Khalil and Hajj Hussein Khalil – froze. The two Khalils were scheduled to meet Mikati to discuss an exit strategy for the obstacle regarding the sixth Sunni seat.

Hezbollah has reportedly put the issue of appointing Faysal Karami [to the sixth Sunni seat] no lower in rank or importance from supporting Aoun’s demands.

Meanwhile, An-Nahar learned that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has proposed lawyer Wassim Mansouri, a king of Berri, to the Foreign Ministry portfolio to replace current caretaker Minister Ali Shami.

As-Safir: “Karami” and “Arslan” obstacles await…

If farce over the government formation process is revolved in the next few days, "suspicion" that the existence of external influences - particularly American - are blocking a Cabinet lineup will turn into “reality.”

The sixth Sunni minister seemed more difficult than some think, in light of Hezbollah’s, Amal’s and former Prime Minister Omar Karami’s insistence on naming Faysal Karami.

Regarding the Druze obstacle, Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan told As-Safir that he has not changed his stance.

"We will not participate in any government in a capacity of State Minister,” Arslan told As-Safir. "Mikati is maneuvering and is delaying the government formation for unknown reasons.”

Al-Mustaqbal: Ahmad Karami rejects sixth Sunni seat to be named by Hezbollah … hints of de facto government re-emerge

The “game” of government formation returned to square one over the weekend with nonstop attacks by Aoun’s Change and Reform MPs against Sleiman and Mikati, while Hezbollah announced support for the Sunni opposition in participating in the government.

Sources talked about a return to pessimism in light of the "disappearance of all the factors of optimism once again."

Al-Akhbar: There is a government … There is no government!

Five days after the meeting that grouped the "top eight" political leaders at Parliament last week which heightened optimism about the imminent birth of the government, talk has returned about immaturity of Mikati’s Cabinet and that everything that has been going on was just to pass time pending regional settlements.

According to a number of observers in the government formation process, the Syrian administration does not want to open doors to additional tension in its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the Western community and the Americans.

In light of the ongoing campaign to pressure Syria and Security Council plans to tackle the Syrian crisis, it is not in the favor of the Syrian regime to provoke any one in return.

Al-Liwaa: No Cabinet lineup as March 8 upset with Mikati

All the information compiled over the weekend shows that things are back to square one. The crisis could be described as an unprecedented “crisis of confidence” between Mikati and March 8 forces, who named him as PM-designate. Visitors to Mikati quoted the business tycoon from Tripoli as expressing displeasure with Hezbollah and Aoun for putting pressure on him.

On the other hand, March 8 forces do not hide their objections to Mikati, which reached a degree of distrust.

Ad-Diyar: March 8 confirms: Mikati will not form [a government]

Day after day, we are seeing a pattern of difficulties appear. As a compromise to Aoun’s demands seems to have appeared, we are faced with another obstacle – Faysal Karami – and another, Talah Arslan and so on and so forth.