Mikati calls on cabinet to convene Monday, will everybody participate?

After the assassination attempt that targeted MP Boutros Harb, PM Najib Mikati can no longer postpone resolving the pending issue with the Change and Reform bloc ministers. Therefore, he made the initiative and called President Michel Sleiman, then informed the ministers that the cabinet will convene next Monday at 4:30 in the afternoon at Baabda Palace, where two main items will be discussed: security developments and 2012 budget draft law.     

In this context, sources close to PM Najib Mikati told LBCI that when the latter called for a cabinet session, the issue pending with the Change and Reform bloc ministers has not been yet resolved, especially with Energy Minister Gebran Bassil.           

The same sources stressed that Change and Reform ministers will not boycott a session of such importance and during this critical situation.                

In turn, sources close to President Michel Sleiman stated that the participation of Change and Reform ministers became obvious, since they placed the solution of the issue in the hands of the President Sleiman.          

As for the bloc’s ministers, they are open for contacts to find a solution, without revealing their position as to Monday’s session.