Raad Repeats Nasrallah's 'Advice' to Suleiman: Don't Form a De Facto Govt.
Head of Loyalty to Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad on Monday met with President Michel Suleiman in Baabda and repeated the “advice” of Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who had called for avoiding a “de facto cabinet.”
"The meeting was positive and represented the best response to reports claiming ties were severed between the two parties," Hizbullah's al-Manar television quoted sources close to Baabda as saying.
“Raad stressed the importance of electing a president within the constitutional timeframe and Suleiman backed his viewpoint,” the sources added, according to al-Manar.
The TV network said “Raad conveyed the bloc's point of view, which calls for a unity cabinet, underlining how dangerous it is to form a de facto government and repeating the 'advice' about refraining from opting for this choice given the threats it poses to the country.”
For his part, Suleiman told Raad that “the issue of the cabinet formation process is in the hands of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam," according to the same sources.
As Safir newspaper had said that the Baabda Palace talks would focus on the latest political and security developments.
Raad and the Hizbullah delegation that accompanied him left the meeting without making a statement.
On Sunday, Raad had called on the March 14 camp to return to the national dialogue in order to tackle pending disputes.
“I call on my brothers and partners in Lebanon to realize that time is running out,” he remarked.
“We are in need of revitalizing all of the country's institutions and we should listen to each other's needs in order to do so,” he added.
“We must return to dialogue. We may change the form and agenda of the dialogue if you do not like it,” he stressed.
“You silence however is leading you to the abyss and you are leading your partners to greater dangers,” warned Raad.
Tensions were high between Suleiman and Hizbullah over the failure to form a new government and over the upcoming presidential election.
Suleiman had suggested the formation of a government that can stage the elections even if it does not enjoy parliament's confidence.
Hizbullah had rejected such a proposal, deeming it unconstitutional.
Suleiman's sources had also recently hinted that he may seek the formation of a de facto cabinet if the political disputes persist.
On Friday, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had adamantly rejected such a government, saying that a national unity one should be formed instead as it will ensure Lebanon's salvation.
Suleiman's term ends in May 2014.
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