Hariri 'Accepts' 8-8-8 Cabinet as Suleiman Says to Form Govt. in 10 Days if No Consensus Reached
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri reportedly gave on Friday his approval on a cabinet based on the 8-8-8 lineup, as President Michel Suleiman stated he will form a government if no consensus was reached between the political foes.
"A meeting held between (caretaker Social Affairs Minister) Wael Abu Faour and (head of Hariri's office) Nader Hariri has ended a while ago and the former PM accepted the 8-8-8 cabinet formula,” LBCI television reported on Friday evening.
LBCI then said ex-PM Fouad Saniora will inform President Michel Suleiman on Saturday al-Mustaqbal Party's official approval and that the discussion kicked off on Friday evening on the details of the government's composition.
The television channel noted that Hariri has agreed on the 8-8-8 formula after he was assured that there would be no so-called "guarantee" or "king minister” in the new cabinet.
"He was also promised that the army-people-resistance equation will not be mentioned in the Policy Statement,” LBCI added.
Earlier in the day, Suleiman announced that he received positive signs from Hariri on the formation of an all-inclusive cabinet based on the 8-8-8 lineup.
Suleiman stated, however, that if no consensus was reached over an all-embracing cabinet within the coming 10 days, a new council of ministers will be formed.
“Regarding March 14 camp's queries on the cabinet's formation, PM-designate Tammam Salam is the one to answer them,” he told LBCI.
“Meetings will be held Friday and Saturday between Saniora and Suleiman at the Baabda Palace,” LBCI said.
It said Hizbullah and AMAL Movement have agreed on the 8-8-8 cabinet formula on condition that it is "political."
Meanwhile, the same source remarked that there is an “acute disagreement” in the March 14 camp, as Hariri is leaning to accept the 8-8-8 cabinet formula while Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has informed his allies that he rejects to join what he called the "cabinet of nothing."
Abu Faour told al-Manar television that efforts are currently focused on holding a meeting between Berri and Saniora.
“My latest visit to Berri was on Wednesday night and I then continued my consultations with Nader Hariri and Saniora,' he said.
Efforts to end the nine-month government deadlock have intensified in the past few days through a series of meetings held by different officials to avert the formation of a non partisan cabinet.
Saniora could soon hold separate talks with Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri over the matter, An Nahar daily reported on Friday.
LBCI revealed that Saniora will inform Berri about March 14's stance on the 8-8-8 government lineup.
Reports said that Suleiman and Berri could also meet before Monday and mentioned possible talks between Salam and Hariri in Europe.
The flurry of political activity comes amid optimism that the rival parties could agree on the formation of a cabinet in which the March 8 and 14 alliances and centrists would get 8 ministers each.
The rivals are hoping to clinch a deal on the all-embracing cabinet by the end of the month to avoid the formation of a neutral government.
Suleiman and Salam have been clinging into the option of a non partisan cabinet to avoid a bigger vacuum ahead of the presidential elections.
The president's adviser, former Minister Khalil Hrawi, visited Saniora, Salam and Berri's adviser Caretaker Minister Ali Hassan Khalil on Thursday.
Abou Faour, who is Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat's envoy, also held talks with Suleiman and Salam.
Jumblat, a centrist, is playing a major mediating role to reach an agreement on a new cabinet nine months after Salam's appointment.
He told As Safir daily that he was exerting all efforts to bring the viewpoints of political parties closer.
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