Cabinet Crisis Eclipses Hizbullah, Mustaqbal Dialogue
The government crisis is expected to have a heavy toll on the ongoing dialogue between the Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah.
According to An Nahar newspaper published Sunday, the upcoming round of talks between the political arch-foes will be affected by the cabinet crisis.
Officials representing the two parties will hold a new meeting on Monday.
Ministerial sources told the daily that Hizbullah isn't expected to take a lenient stance that would positively impact its ally the Free Patriotic Movement.
The sources said that FPM chief MP Michel Aoun is seeking a settlement before easing the government's deadlock.
Aoun's recent stance regarding the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials plunged the country into further crises amid the ongoing presidential vacuum.
He bluntly rejected any attempt to extend the terms of the officials as he has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, his son-in-law, as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.
Roukoz's tenure ends in October while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.
Despite the tension, the dialogue between the two rivals seemed to be on track.
Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials have been meeting in Ain el-Tineh since December to defuse sectarian hostility linked to the war in Syria.
H.K.
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