Hizbullah Seeks to Clinch Deal with Aoun on Rotation of Portfolios
Hizbullah is seeking the approval of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on the rotation of portfolios in the new government after reports emerged that he was opposing such a move.
A Hizbullah delegation made up of Hussein Khalil and Wafiq Safa are negotiating with Aoun to convince him into approving the rotation which is likely to be between parties and sects.
But Aoun has expressed fears that such a rotation would deprive his party of the energy and telecommunications portfolios.
The current energy minister is his son-in-law Jebran Bassil while the telecom ministry is led by FPM official Nicolas Sehnaoui.
Media reports said Monday that the first meeting between Aoun and the Hizbullah envoys yielded no result.
Bassil said Sunday that the Christians should be represented by key portfolios in the new cabinet.
Other than the portfolios obstacle, As Safir daily reported that the FPM chief not only rejects the rotation of portfolios but also wants a 30-member cabinet rather than 24.
The current consultations are focusing on the formation of a 24-member all-embracing cabinet after al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri said he was ready to share power with Hizbullah.
However the March 14 alliance that is led by Hariri and the Hizbullah-led March 8 camp are still at odds on the policy statement of the cabinet.
March 14 has been insisting on making the Baabda Declaration as the basis of the statement. But March 8 along with President Michel Suleiman, PM-designate Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri, who are major players in the formation of the cabinet, want the policy statement discussions to be left out of the deal struck on the government.
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