Kanaan: Progress Recorded at Government Formation Level
Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan said the negotiations happening at the level of forming a new cabinet “have recorded a clear progress,” and the latest contacts gave the “stalled formation a push forward.”
“There is clear progress in the negotiations happening at the governmental level, but the final visualization is to expressed by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri. No doubt that the latest contacts gave the formation a push forward,” said Kanaan in an interview to VDL (100.5).
As for the number of ministers in the new cabinet, he said: “Until this moment we are still considering a 24-minister cabinet. As for the obstacle of the public works and health portfolios, it is being addressed between Speaker Nabih Berri and Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, and all the other blocs with the PM designated to form the cabinet.”
On the prospects for the Lebanese Forces to accept being given the health portfolio instead of the public works, the MP said: “We must not rush things because the issue depends on the positions of the blocs in question. Today the contacts will resume and the LF is the party concerned to give an answer in this regard.
“On our part, we have a tour today where we will meet with Loyalty to the Resistance bloc and the Lebanese Forces to discuss the electoral law, of course there is a possibility to discuss many other issues.”
Kanaan concluded: “The starting point for the bloc to discuss will be the proposal of the Orthodox electoral law which was suggested by us, and the proportional representation based on 15 districts which was approved in Bkirki. We are open to any law that provides parity and convergence between the blocs.”
The political forces are seeking to reach a settlement over the distribution of the ministerial portfolios that are still a subject of contention so that the new cabinet can be formed soon.
The sought settlement will re-distribute the public works, health and education ministerial portfolios and one of them is supposed to be offered to Marada, media reports had said.
Source: Naharnet
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