Hizbullah Rejects Formation of Cabinet without Ally Aoun, Calls for Lenient Stances by FPM
Hizbullah is exerting efforts to convince its ally the Free Patriotic Movement to lower its rhetoric concerning the cabinet formation process and end obstacles hindering the government formation.
According to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Monday, a meeting was held on Sunday evening between FPM's caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and a delegation from Hizbullah.
The participants discussed the cabinet formation process, in which the delegation stressed that the “allies will take part in the cabinet lineup together or they won't.”
Hizbullah sources told the newspaper that head of the FPM MP Michel Aoun insists on rejecting the concept of rotating ministerial portfolios.
“We are exerting efforts to convince Aoun to be more lenient, stressing that the latest meeting in Rabieh discussed means to end the stalemate,” the sources pointed out.
Sources denied that Hizbullah informed Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam that Hizbullah “gave up” concerning the cabinet lineup process, stressing that the party is “confused over Aoun's stance.”
The cabinet formation process reached an impasse after being put on front burner.
Aoun's insistence that his bloc retain the Energy and Telecommunications Ministries portfolios, currently held by caretaker Ministers Bassil and Nicolas Sehnaoui respectively is viewed to be the main obstacle. In addition to his rejection to the concept of rotation of ministerial portfolios.
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.
An Nahar newspaper reported that the energy minister, who will be appointed in Salam's cabinet, cannot kickoff any new contracts or deal with the current as the lifespan of the cabinet will be short and the governments main task would be overseeing the upcoming presidential elections.
The report points out that any work set to be done by the ministry will have to await the cabinet that will be formed after the presidential elections are staged, arguing that Aoun's insistence to retain the energy ministry is void.
The latest efforts to form a new government have yielded an agreement over the formation of a 24-member cabinet which grants eight ministers to each of the March 8 and 14 camps and centrists.
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.
Alternatives to the 8-8-8 government lineup are a de facto cabinet or a neutral one, said Speaker Nabih Berri.
Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat are however pressing for the formation of an all-embracing government.
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