Report: Suleiman to Back Any Govt. Line-up that Enjoys Support of Parliamentary Majority

President Michel Suleiman is leaning towards advocating the formation of a 24-member government that distributes portfolios equally between the March 8, March 14, and centrist camps, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.

His visitors quoted him as saying that he will endorse any cabinet line-up that enjoys the support of the majority of lawmakers.

“The lack of this support will only complicate the political situation in Lebanon, especially at the beginning of the summer season that the president is hoping would be promising,” they added.

“A government dispute will only negatively affect the situation in the country,” they noted.

Efforts will now focus on garnering the support of the majority of lawmakers over the 24-minister government, they revealed.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is seeking the formation of a cabinet of national interests that can supervise the parliamentary elections that are scheduled for June 16.

The March 8 camp has been demanding the formation of a political cabinet, while the March 14 alliance is seeking one whose ministers will not run in the elections.

Salam's latest efforts to form the government were met with the March 8 camp's insistence to obtain veto power, which he rejected by explaining such a cabinet will be unproductive.