Jumblat Says Mustaqbal Candidates for Interior Ministry Facilitate Cabinet Formation
The Progressive Socialist Party is still exerting efforts to facilitate the formation of a new cabinet and end the political deadlock despite the ongoing disputes among the rival parties over the distribution of key portfolios.
Head of the PSP MP Walid Jumblat pointed out that the names proposed by al-Mustaqbal movement to be appointed at the head of the interior ministry are not provoking nor pose any challenge to the other parties.
“We welcome the names suggested by al-Mustaqbal movement. In my opinion they facilitate the formation of the cabinet if the disputes impeding the cabinet formation were local,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.
He stressed that his party will not interfere in the matter.
Premier-designate Tammam Salam had reportedly decided to grant both the interior and defense portfolios to March 14 in addition to a proposal to hand the interior ministry to one of al-Mustaqbal movement candidates.
However, the move drew outrage by the March 8 alliance that threatened to withdraw their ministers if such a decision was taken.
PSP caretaker Minister of the Displaced Alaa Eddine Terro told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday that the conditions and counter-conditions by the rival parties didn't reach an end.
“The complication isn't only local as the regional developments are having an impact on the cabinet formation process and delaying it,” Terro told the daily.
He called on all parties to compromise and prioritize the country's interests.
Terro stressed that Jumblat didn't give up, noting that the Druze chief is still exerting efforts to find common grounds among the rival parties.
“We will not lose hope,” he added.
Salam, a 67-year-old moderate, was appointed in April two weeks after the resignation of Premier Najib Miqati.
However, Salam has been facing a difficulty in forming his cabinet over Aoun's unswerving stance to retain the energy and telecommunications ministries and his rejection to adopt the concept of rotating ministerial portfolios.
Aoun has rejected the rotation of portfolios as part of a deal struck between the rival parties on the 24-member cabinet based on the 8-8-8 formula, hinting that he would pull his ministers out of it and drawing the support of his allies in the March 8 alliance.
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