Report: March 8 Seeking Post-Miqati Successor
The March 8 forces are preparing for the post-Prime Minister Najib Miqati stage as Hizbullah is expected to object the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon during Wednesday’s cabinet session.
The Hizbullah leadership began over the past two weeks preparing for the post-Miqati stage, if the premier carried out his threat to resign if the funding of the STL wasn’t approved by the cabinet, sources told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.
They said that the party is seeking to find the official that will succeed Miqati as PM.
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has openly opposed Lebanon paying its annual share, as Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the STL's financing, which amounts to some $33 million this year.
The sources noted that there are ongoing discussions with Sunni officials to choose the successor, especially with ex-PM Omar Karami.
“The cabinet session will witness a heated debate between its members if it was held and Speaker Nabih Berri succeeded in his mediation,” the sources told the daily.
A March 8 forces ministerial source told An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday that the cabinet session will remain on time.
The source noted that the obstacle facing the cabinet isn’t the funding of the STL anymore, as the demands of the Free Patriotic Movement have complicated the situation.
Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc’s ministers stressed on Saturday that their participation in the cabinet depends on several issues. Among them are efforts by the cabinet to make appointments at the Higher Judicial Council, resolving the wage dispute for employees and implementing several development projects in the electricity and water sectors.
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