Report: Suleiman Reportedly Said No Cabinet Soon Due to Local, Regional Obstacles

President Michel Suleiman has reportedly ruled out the formation of the cabinet anytime soon, saying that Lebanon has missed investment opportunities over the deadlock.

“Lebanon is missing big economic and investment opportunities over the continued impasse in the formation of the government, particularly at a time of security shakeups in Arab countries,” Suleiman’s visitors quoted him as saying.

They told al-Mustaqbal newspaper in remarks published Tuesday that the president has stressed the cabinet will not be formed soon “over local and regional obstacles.”

Suleiman “is hoping for the inclusion of all parties in the government but believes in (the need to) procrastinate in order to study the regional situation and its repercussions,” the visitors said.

However, As Safir daily quoted Suleiman’s visitors as saying that the cabinet should be formed immediately to “consolidate the country” at a time of turmoil in the region.

They said that the president has reiterated that he wouldn’t sign a cabinet decree that would create precedence.