PM Najib Miqati says government will confront all challenges, denies resignation reports

Many are the challenges facing the government of Prime Minister Najib Miqati, amid the “red lines” imposed here and there…

Yet, the Premier seems to be optimistic. He was quoted by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar as saying that the government will continue to work after it succeeded in guaranteeing stability. He said that everything else is just wishes and attempts to create a tumult. He promised that the government will confront all challenges, at the political, social, economic, and security levels despite the differences in the viewpoints of its members.

Asked whether it was possible for him to resign, Miqati said “I accepted premiership because the country was facing a crisis, and because I want to find solutions.”

The premier’s sources, meanwhile, told Lebanese daily As-Safir that the government will not resign soon, as it was assuming its duties away from the pressure of stances, and as long as it gains the confidence of the Parliament.

The sources denied reports that Miqati’s government would resign over controversial issues such as the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the draft state budget. They said the government will discuss the STL funding as part of the 2012 budget but would postpone deliberations on the issue until the remaining articles are discussed. The tribunal funding “will be discussed calmly and logically similar to the other articles” of the budget, they told the newspapers.