Report: Aoun, Berri Keeping Mum on New Efforts to Help Cabinet Line-Up

Serious efforts to ease the differences hampering the formation of a new cabinet are underway between President Michel Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri, media reports said on Friday.

Sources following up closely on the formation process, said the two sides have committed to maintain silence as for this endeavor so it won't be hampered, paving the way for its formation within ten-day limit.

Considering the formation of a 30-minister cabinet is very likely from Aoun's perspective, although Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri still adheres to a 24-minister cabinet, added the sources.

As for the share to be allotted to the Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, discussions continue between Berri and Hariri in that regard. Franjieh says he has the right to be represented in the cabinet similar to other political parties.

Aoun's election as president and Hariri's appointment as premier-designate have raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

But Aoun and Hariri are still struggling to put together a new cabinet amid conflicting demands from the political forces that are seeking to join the unity government.

Horsetrading is still revolving around the so-called services-related ministerial portfolios, mainly public works and telecommunications.

Speaker Nabih Berri, who is negotiating on behalf of the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp, is clinging to the finance and public works portfolios while also insisting that the Marada Movement must get a key portfolio.