Change and Reform Says Govt. Line-Up Not Final before Approval of Aoun, Hariri

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc announced Tuesday that Speaker Nabih Berri “has the right” to give up his demand to get the public works ministerial portfolio in favor of his ally MP Suleiman Franjieh while noting that “there cannot be a final line-up” before the approval of President Michel Aoun and Premier-designate Saad Hariri.

“From the very beginning, we said that any party has the right to give up a certain portfolio in favor of another party without imposing anything on the other parties,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.

“A certain party's demand to get the public works portfolio has been met but for this to become a constitutional fact, it still needs the approval of the president and the PM-designate,” Kanaan added, describing Berri's move as “important.”

“The consultations are ongoing and the line-up will become final upon its issuance in decrees signed by the president and the PM-designate in line with the constitution,” the MP went on to say, calling for “capitalizing on the positivity” that has surfaced in the past few hours.

Franjieh announced Monday after talks in Ain el-Tineh that Berri had officially offered him the public works ministerial portfolio and that “an agreement is still needed over other portfolios.”

“Our candidate for this ministry is Youssef Finianos and we're awaiting the stances of the other parties, and we hope others, topped by President Michel Aoun, will show openness,” he added.

The Lebanese Forces was however quick to hit back at Franjieh, saying it is “not concerned” with what was announced from Ain el-Tineh. LF bloc MP Fadi Karam also announced on Tuesday morning that his party is still clinging to the public works portfolio.