Berri Voices Optimism over Cabinet Formation Process, Praises Hariri's Endeavors
Speaker Nabih Berri expressed optimism on Monday over the ongoing contacts to form a new cabinet between the political foes, hailing the efforts exerted by head of al-Mustaqbal movement former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
“Ex-PM Saad Hariri isn't only cooperating with endeavors to form an all-embracing cabinet but also cooperating to remove all obstacles confronting it,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers.
Asked about the deadline set by President Michel Suleiman to form a cabinet, the speaker said that “the deadline encouraged the process of cabinet formation.”
The president said recently that there was a need to form a new government before March 25, the deadline set by the Constitution for the parliament to meet to elect a new president.
Suleiman's tenure ends in May 2014.
The government formation process has witnessed an intensified a political activity in an attempt to end the standstill since Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam was appointed in April.
The 8-8-8 government lineup awaits that March 14 approval, while al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc has set a series of questions regarding the cabinet's ministerial statement, the rotation of portfolios and the veto power.
The 8-8-8 formula divides ministers equally between the centrists and March 14 and 8 alliances, in which each get eight ministers with “decisive ministers” for the March 14 and 8 coalitions.
Asked if the March 8 alliance answered the March 14 coalition's questions, Berri said there were “no questions, answers or conditions but suggestions to improve the cabinet lineup.”
Concerning the rotation of portfolios, the speaker said that “Salam was the first to propose such a measure and I support it on the basis of justice and inclusiveness.”
“It is time to end a custom in Lebanon that ministries become owned by those who fill them,” Berri said.
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