Hariri Denies Agreeing to Exchange Parliament Term Extension for 8-8-8 Cabinet Formula

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday “categorically” denied a media report claiming that he had proposed to Speaker Nabih Berri to exchange the extension of parliament’s term with the so-called 8-8-8 cabinet line-up formula in addition to the rotation of portfolios.

A report published Friday in As Safir newspaper said should Berri reject the alleged deal, al-Mustaqbal Movement would refuse to extend parliament’s mandate and would submit the nominations of its candidates as of next Monday according to the 1960 electoral law.

But a statement issued by Hariri's press office said the report is "untrue and unfounded and aims at hindering the adoption of a new electoral law, especially after the consensus reached by theMarch 14 forces and the Progressive Socialist Party on the hybrid electoral draft law."

It also said that the report aims at "keeping Lebanon in a state of political imbalance and instability."

"Hariri and the al-Mustaqbal Movement are keen on holding the parliamentary elections within the constitutional deadline, and have exerted all possible efforts and submitted more than one initiative to the political allies and opponents in order to reach a consensual electoral draft law that takes into consideration the demands and concerns of all parties without any exception," said the statement.

"However, all the initiatives and efforts were faced by the intransigence and categorical refusal of the others in an attempt to disrupt carrying out the elections within the constitutional deadline," it added.

The statement said the publication of such "fabricated news" is an attempt "not only to portray the al-Mustaqbal Movement as standing behind the postponement of the parliamentary elections, but also to drive a wedge between the movement and its allies in March 14."

"It seems that this alliance, which was consolidated in the hybrid electoral draft law on which these forces agreed yesterday, upsets the forces behind the publication of such fabricated news," Hariri's press office added.

The press office stressed that Hariri and al-Mustaqbal Movement will not hesitate to do everything in their capacity to facilitate the formation of a new cabinet.