REPORT: Behind the scenes negotiations between Mikati and March 14 figures

Prime Minister Najib Mikati is consulting with March 14 leaders away from the media spotlight to put an end to the political crisis.        

Talks are reportedly centered on the formation of a transitional government and the ratification of an electoral law. During several meetings with opposition figures, Mikati submitted a proposal stipulating the resignation of his government and the formation of a new government under his chairmanship. The government would include 7 ministers from March 8, 7 ministers from March 14 and 8 impartial ministers.  

According to Mikati, impartial figures are figures like President Michel Sleiman and MP Walid Jumblatt. Mikati even tried to add House Speaker Nabih Berri to the impartial list, but he was faced with the objection of March 14 leaders.     

According to Mikati’s proposal, after the formation of this government comes the time of serious talks over the electoral law where all proposals submitted on the division of electoral districts can be mixed, thus setting the law from around 35 electoral districts.       

In reaction to this proposal, a number of March 14 leaders voiced their intention to reopen communication channels with Mikati but opposition figures later refused any kind of talks for two reasons: first, they want the formation of a technocrat government where political parties are not represented, and second, they considered that if Mikati wanted to chair a similar government, he should confirm that he will not run for elections.   

According to sources, March 14 is not in a hurry to choose a new electoral law; the coalition’s leaders even considered that time was in their favor in this regard. Therefore, they thought that there was not need to rush and offer Mikati a new government.        

A main opposition figure even told a delegation of March 14 figures that he did not trust the formation of an impartial government, considering that Mikati’s proposal is a “political balloon.” The unidentified figure doubted that PM Mikati had consulted his allies in the government, mainly Hezbollah, before submitting his proposal. In the end, contacts were interrupted again and were postponed to after the holidays, according to opposition sources. 


Later on, the media office of PM Najib Mikati issued a statement in response to the report, where by it said: "news about meetings with Lebanese parties away from the media are not true and the PM's only proposal is a national dialogue to reach an accord on the electoral law. "


To watch the full LBCI report, please click on the video above