Naharnet

Geagea Appeals for Neutral Cabinet, Says President and PM-designate Shouldn't Waste Time

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Tuesday the president and the prime minister-designate not to waste any time and use their authorities to form a neutral cabinet.

In remarks to the Central News Agency, Geagea said President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam should “not waste any additional time and use their constitutional authorities to form a neutral government (that excludes) the March 8 and 14 alliances.”

“Any such move has become an urgent salvation (method) in the interest of the nation,” he said.

Geagea called for a “capable and effective” cabinet.

“For the first time, experience is showing that the formation of the so-called all-embracing government is facing obstacles the size of a mountain,” he said.

Such obstacles are linked to “narrow interests,” the LF chief said about his Christian rival Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, who has rejected the all-embracing cabinet based on the 8-8-8 formula and the rotation of portfolios among sects.

His objection is seen as the last obstacle preventing the line-up.

“A neutral government is the only one … that leads to an acceptable stability in the country and distances itself from the logic of division of shares,” Geagea said.

“By neutral I mean a non partisan (government) away from the March 8 and 14 alliances and not neutral from the sovereign policy represented by the Baabda Declaration,” he stressed.


Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. https://naharnet.com/stories/en/116117