Abou Faour Relies on Cooperation of Rival Parties to End Cabinet Deadlock
Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Thursday the cabinet stalemate doesn't necessarily indicate that negotiations between the rival parties have slowed down.
“As long as there is political will to form a national unity cabinet that safeguards the country” the cabinet would see the light, Abou Faour said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He expressed hope that the political foes remain cooperative in order to wrap up the matter.
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, who was appointed in April, is holding onto the concept of “fair, balanced and comprehensive rotation of portfolios,” which is rejected by the Free Patriotic Movement.
The cabinet formation process was put on the front burner after Speaker Nabih Berri proposed a revised 8-8-8 government formula and President Michel Suleiman said he would form a so-called neutral cabinet if the political rivals don't agree on an all-embracing government within ten days.
Amid the Lebanese Forces' rejection of Hizbullah's participation in the cabinet, the March 14 camp has reportedly accepted the 8-8-8 formula in principle, but it is awaiting answers pertaining to the ministerial policy statement and the rotation of portfolios among political parties.
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.
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