Junblat meets Aoun, calls on opposition to take part in new government

Observers consider that the Najib Miqati nomination to form the new Lebanese government might accelerate the process, but not the organizing of the elections, especially as the new government has to embark on an election law and debate it for a vote before the parliament. A matter which needs several weeks.

The nomination of Miqati came after the opposition Druz parliamentarian Walid Junblat called on the Lebanese opposition from Paris to take part in the parliamentary consultation.

Junblat said before his meeting with the French foreign minister Michael Barnier that the Lebanese opposition has to nominate a candidate to join the government and has to join the game.

Junblat also met with the French President Jacque Chirac. News reports in Paris said that Junblat met with the former leader of the Lebanese army and the leader of what is called the "free national trend" Michael Aoun who is preparing to return back to Lebanon.

However, the Aoun- Junblat meeting is considered the first since 20 years. The two sides agreed on several points including the need of making the legislative elections in Lebanon and the possibility of the opposition participation in the government which will be formed by Miqati.