BEIRUT: Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan expressed regret Sunday for lashing out at Prime Minister Najib Mikati in what he described as a “moment of anger.”

Arslan’s expression of remorse could pave the way for the nomination of his brother-in-law, Marwan Kheireddine, to replace him as minister of state, as suggested earlier by Lebanese Democratic Party MP Fadi Aawar.

Arslan resigned just hours after the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Najib Mikati was announced last Monday, though he has yet to submit his resignation in writing.

Arslan was still determined Sunday to deny the new government his vote of confidence, a gesture of protest against what he says is the unjust representation of the Druze community in the Cabinet.

“I want to express on this occasion my regret for my angry statement at the last news conference when my remarks surpassed political [criticism] of the prime minister and became personal. This is a mistake that goes against our traditions, which have always united rather than divided the Lebanese,” said Arslan.

Arslan had accused Mikati of “lying and piracy” during the talks on the Cabinet’s formation.

“It is no honor for me to sit by his side in this government after Mikati spent five months lying,” Arslan said in a news conference hours after the government’s formation.

Speaking Sunday before local delegations in Khaldeh, some 20 kilometers south of Beirut, Arslan said that “racial discrimination” against the Druze community was unacceptable.

“They believe that the Druze community should not be entrusted with any government responsibility relating directly to the country’s national security, including the Interior, Foreign, Defense and Finance portfolios, differentiating between so-called sovereign and non-sovereign portfolios,” Arslan said.

Arslan, who was appointed state minister, had said that his resignation was an expression of his dissatisfaction over not being appointed defense minister, as he had requested.

“I will not give my moral or practical approval to the deprivation of the Druze community. This is an appeal to those in control of public affairs in Lebanon: Any intention to reform the country is far from honest since the first step in reform should be to do away racial discrimination,” Arslan said.

Arslan added that the formation of the new government was a step toward ending the void in executive power, but warned the Cabinet against following the path of its predecessor by failing to implement reforms.