Aoun-Hariri Meeting Collapses Amid Escalation of Words
The bickering between the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Mustaqbal movement that has hampered cabinet formation efforts has also put into doubt the possibility of holding a meeting between PM-designate Saad Hariri and FPM leader Gen. Michel Aoun.
A source close to Aoun told As Safir daily that the meeting is on the verge of annulment because the FPM chief "doesn”t want to sit with any person just for the sake of taking a photograph of them."
"The ball is in the premier-designate”s court who should first silence his team," the source added.
Hariri”s close circles, in their turn, reiterated that Aoun”s insistence on bringing his son-in-law back to the telecommunications ministry is hindering the cabinet formation process. His "unfeasible demands could not be met under any circumstances," they added.
One of the most violent criticism to Aoun came from Tripoli MP Mohammed Abdel Latif Kabbara on Thursday. In response, the FPM issued a statement accusing several al-Mustaqbal movement MPs of "fabricating lies" in order to cover up for their political party”s scandals.
The statement underlined that Aoun”s criticism of Hariri”s performance with regard to the cabinet”s formation did not target the Sunnis in Lebanon.