Adwan on Maarab Understanding Says LF ‘Kept its Word’, FPM Should Do Same

MP George Adwan said the Lebanese Forces has kept its word regarding the agreement with the Free Patriotic Movement, urging the latter to “adhere to the (Maarab) accord” which brought President Michel Aoun (FPM founder) to the presidential post.

The Lebanese Forces “has implemented an essential part of the Maarab Agreement regarding the presidency, the other party cannot abandon the rest of the accord, it must respect it,” said Adwan of the Lebanese Forces party in remarks he made before the joint parliamentary meeting on Thursday.

The 2016 “highly secretive” Agreement was signed by FPM chief Jebran Bassil and LF leader Samir Geagea and led to an inter-Christian reconciliation that paved the way for the election of Aoun as president in Oct. same year.

It tackled the May parliamentary elections, the distribution of ministerial portfolios between the two parties and the distribution of the first class jobs.

It was brought to public in July by the LF when tension escalated between the two parties.

On the delayed Cabinet line-up, Adwan said “we fully back the prime minister-designate and have made many facilitations. The major problem is internal and related to the sizes (of political parties). Another major problem is that the FPM is confusing between its own Cabinet share and that of the president.”

The FPM insists the allocation of Cabinet quota separate from that of Aoun, also founder of the FPM.

Hariri was tasked with forming a new government on May 24. His mission is being hampered by political wrangling over shares, especially over Christian and Druze representation.