Lebanon: Pressure to Form New Government

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati is coming under intensified domestic pressure from his political opponents to form a new government. In addition to the normal divisions that complicate coalition-building in Lebanon, Al Quds reports that developments in Syria have also caused delays in announcing a government. It also reports that decision has been delayed due to a visit last week by U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly, where she presented Mikati with a “catalog of conditions” for a new government.

According to a press release by the the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, “The United States views that the international community will assess its relationship with any new government of Lebanon based on the make-up of the next cabinet, its Ministerial Statement and the actions it takes in regard to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Lebanon’s other international obligations.”