Nine caretaker ministers reject Monday cabinet meeting

The nine ministers affiliated with Former President Michel Aoun expressed surprise at the invitation of the Caretaker Prime Minister to hold a ministerial meeting with an agenda of 25 items, given that the caretaker government has not convened since it was assumed to be resigned in May.

The nine ministers indicated that some matters, including hospitals and other significant ones, can be settled without calling for a cabinet meeting and that doing so is constitutionally and legally permissible.

They said they did not agree with the ministerial session's decisions or the ministerial meeting itself.

The nine ministers appealed to their colleagues not to participate in violating the constitution and the prime minister to retract his call.

In a statement, Minister Walid Nassar mentioned that he had informed Mikati of not attending the session. He also called upon all Lebanese parties to work together to make intensive efforts to resolve the crises and ensure the success of Lebanon's winter tourism season.

For his part, Minister Amin Salam announced that after constitutional and legal consultations, it was confirmed that the proposed items could be accomplished within the powers of the ministries and the authorities of the caretaker government. Salam added that the invitation to the meeting should be withdrawn and that he would otherwise not be attending.

Sources close to the prime minister pointed out that the cabinet meeting is still on schedule and that the nine ministers' statement does not accurately reflect the reality of the ongoing communications.