One main political force, the March 14 Bloc, is adamant no new cabinet could be selected before a new president is named. The view is that any such cabinet would not serve long before it resigns with the appointment of the new head of state.

Meanwhile, opposition groups believe consensus over the presidency issue is feasible through consensus on a unity government. This bloc would not accept the political majority's attempt to buy time so that the presidential elections would be held within the present status quo.

And while this group clearly favors MP Michel Aoun as its lone presidential candidate, a stance supported by the results of the elections in Al-Metn earlier this month, the first group is still to decide and select just one of many names being suggested as candidates.

Member of the Lebanese Forces Party Antoine Zahra told KUNA respect for the constitutional time-frame for the presidential elections on both sides could most probably serve as the way out of the current crisis.

To a question over the pro-government groups' call for formation of a unity government before the elections, the MP noted, "This is an attempt to stall everything and shoot down every solution in the horizon." It just goes against reason to have a cabinet to serve for such a short space of time, and this is clearly an attempt to come out with more seats in cabinet to gain power of veto, he stressed.

Meanwhile, MP Atef Majdalani of the Future Bloc said his group was set on having the elections within the space of time set by the constitution.

As for a presidential candidate for the bloc, the MP said the bloc had many competent men to choose from and shall come out and declare a lone candidate "at the right time." Change and Reform Bloc MP Nabil Nicholas defended the choice of Michel Aoun as the right presidential candidate. Aoun is the figure who represents the larger segment and who has the greater support within both the Muslim and Christian population, he argued.

"He is the right man for a unity government as he represents, in our view, the whole rather than a party," he noted. Aoun, he said, would be capable of creating balance.

The MP also defended calls for cabinet formation prior to the elections. "Such a government would work to create the right atmosphere for holding the presidential elections," and this is "the only way" to hold the elections.

Liberty and Development Party MP Ali Kheries meanwhile accused the majority of trying to rock the boat and abort attempts at settlement of issues. He said the opposition supported any conference that helped the country out of the current crisis, be it an international or regional gathering.

The figure finally cautioned that unless the presidential elections were held on time, "an unnatural state with two governments and administrations would arise which would negatively impact the whole Lebanese situation." -Kuna