The media office of Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati issued the following:

While the President is keen to approach the process of forming a government, according to the well-known constitutional rule and in line with the requirements of the difficult phase that Lebanon is going through, in which the Lebanese are fed up with arguments and are looking forward to forming a government that will start the required rescue workshop.

It seems that some are insisting on turning the government formation process into a political and media bazaar that is open to various leaks, gossip and lies, in a clear attempt to distance the accusation of obstruction from them and attach it to others, and this method has become exposed and repugnant.

Adopting the direct formula sometimes and the devious methods at other times to leak false news, to elicit a reaction from the designated president or to anticipate what he is doing, will not work.

The President is proceeding with the formation process according to the principles he set from the first day and with openness to cooperation and consultation with His Excellency President Michel Aoun, and in return he is looking forward to constructive cooperation away from the conditions and methods that have become known.

The President is also holding various meetings to form a government, and he has not committed to any final order with anyone until the final version of the government is produced, and everything that is said to the contrary is totally false.”