The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate, Najib Mikati, announced Monday that he would not be able to form a government before the first anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, as he had planned. 

"I was hoping that government formation would have been faster," Mikati said in a brief speech after meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace. 

He added, "I wanted the process to be faster so that we could form a government to present it to the Lebanese before the fourth of August," that is, the anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, which killed at least 214 people and injured more than 6,500 people.

In response to a question about the deadline he set for forming a government, Mikati replied, "The deadline is not open."

It is worth noting that Mikati, who headed two governments in the past, will meet with the President of the Republic again next Thursday - the day after the third conference of donor countries for Lebanon under the auspices of France.

Last week, the President-designate expressed his hope to form a new government, saying, "God willing, there will be a government soon," in a statement after meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace.

Mikati indicated that he gave Aoun his suggestions about the government formation and that he felt accepted by him as he took his observations into account. He stressed that "President Aoun seeks to form a government as quickly as possible."