Cabinet deliberations stall as Aoun reiterates demands

Opposition allies hopeful for speedy government
By Elias Sakr
Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: Deliberations on cabinet-formation stumbled yet again over the distribution of mi­nisterial portfolios as Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader MP Michel Aoun reiterated Wed­nesday his demand for the Tele­communications Ministry. However, Aoun’s opposition allies voiced optimism with re­gard to the prompt formation of the government while Leba­nese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea said the cabinet could see light in a “reasonable time given that the minority was instructed by foreign powers to facilitate the process.”

Following the Reform and Change bloc weekly meeting, Aoun stressed on Wednesday that he submitted to Hariri a proposal regarding his share of portfolios in the next cabinet and awaited the latter’s response to take the appropriate decision.

Aoun also reiterated his demand for the Telecommunications Ministry, adding that he included his request in the proposal submitted to Hariri; Aoun had expressed on several occasions his insistence that his son-in-law Caretaker Telecommunication Minister Jebran Bassil retain his post for another term. “We wait for Hariri to end his de­liberations in order to inform us on his cabinet make-up proposal so we can decide if it is in accordance with our talks,” he said.

Aoun stressed that Hariri and the majority should accept the just participation of opposition groups in the government according to their representational size, adding that some parties seek to hamper the formation process.

Meanwhile, Aoun’s ally, Marada Movement leader Sleiman Franjieh stressed after talks Wednesday with Premier-designate Saad Hariri that his party’s share of one minister was part of the five ministries to be allotted to Aoun’s Reform and Change bloc.

Franjieh underlined that his meeting with Hariri was a positive one. “We are part of the Reform and Change bloc and we demand a ministerial portfolio rather than a state ministry,” he said.

Following talks with Hariri at the latter’s residence in Downtown Beirut, Franjieh added that he expected the government to be formed soon given the positive political atmosphere.

Similarly, Development and Liberation bloc MP and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri’s top political aide Ali Hassan Khalil said on Wednesday that the formation process was on the right track as deliberations progressed fast toward resolving conflicting issues.

MPs participating in Wednesday’s parliamentary meetings with the speaker quoted Berri as saying that “the atmosphere is positive,” adding that he still refrained from public rhetoric.

Berri is expected to meet with Hariri in the next 48 hours regarding the cabinet formation, the Central News Agency reported on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Hariri held discussions with representatives of Hizbullah and Amal Movement after talks Monday with Aoun.

Hizbullah’s Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawaf Moussawi expressed optimism with regard to the formation of a cabinet soon, stressing that deliberations over the distribution of portfolios should be conducted away from the media.

Moussawi added that the issue of granting each party the right to nominate his own ministers was no longer an obstacle, adding that disagreements over the nomination of certain candidates were eliminated. He also accused the US Wednesday of seeking the formation of a majority cabinet rather than a national-unity one.

Separately, Geagea voiced doubt over the formation of a government in the next few days, adding that the cabinet could see light in a reasonable time if the positive atmosphere prevailed.

Geagea added that the positive attitude by opposition forces was due to instructions by foreign powers to the minority in order to facilitate the process.

“All cabinet line-up proposals to be suggested currently by Hariri would grant the opposition fewer gains than what was offered by the premier-designate in his first proposition to Sleiman, which indicates the power of foreign influence in Lebanon’s domestic affairs,” Geagea said.

The LF leader denied that the issue of allotting shares among Christian parties was obstructing the process. He also emphasized that the LF rejected the nomination of candidates who lost the race to parliament as ministers; however his party would not obstruct the process if Bassil is to be reappointed.

Bassil lost the polls in his hometown Batroun to March 14 MPs.

Phalange Party MP Sami Gemayel said his party called for the formation of a majority cabinet but would not obstruct the rise of a national-unity one. “The president is a consensus man who attempts to avoid problems given the threats by Hizbullah to either surrender to its demands or face new May 7 events,” he said.

Bloody clashes broke out between pro-government and opposition supporters on May 7, 2008 following the cabinet’s decision to dismantle Hizbullah’s telecommunication network.

Gemayel said that forming a cabinet based on the current suggested make-up would lead to the establishment of a new caretaker government that would reflect a mini-parliament.

Maronite bishops decry cabinet delay

BKIRKI: The Council of Maronite Bishops on Wednesday condemned delay in the formation of a national unity government and accused “some” Lebanese political leaders of seeking their own interests.

“We regret that the government has not been formed after three months of efforts to form one,” said the Bishops in a statement following their monthly meeting in the seat of the Maronite Church in the Kesrouan town of Bkirki.

“Governments are made to serve the people. But in Lebanon, people’s interests are overlooked and no one cares about them while politicians are turning their attention to achieve their goals and their own interests,” added the statement read by Monsignor Youssef Tawk.

The Bishops stressed that alliance with foreign or regional “should not be mixed with loyalty to the homeland.” – Maroun Khoury