March 8 Stresses 'United Stance' over PM-Designate ahead of Parliamentary Consultations
The March 8 camp held talks on Wednesday at Speaker Nabih Berri's residence at Ain el-Tineh in order to coordinate their stances ahead of the binding parliamentary consultations later this week.
Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh said after the talks: “We will head to the consultations with a united position over a new prime minister-designate.”
He added described the meeting “as more than excellent”, while denying reports of disputes within the camp.
“The names being discussed to assume the premiership are not many and we are seeking an agreement on a candidate who enjoys consensus,” Franjieh remarked to reporters.
The consultations are scheduled to be held at the Baabda Palace on Friday and Saturday.
The Ain el-Tineh meeting included General Secretary of Tashnag Party Hovig Mekhitarian, caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil, caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, political aide of the Hizbullah chief Hussein Khalil, and MP Hagop Pakradonian.
Media reports spoke of a rift between Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun over the controversial parliamentary electoral law and the formation of the new cabinet.
An Nahar newspaper reported that a meeting behind closed doors was held on Tuesday between the March 8 Christian representatives and political aide of the Hizbullah chief Hussein Khalil to reach a breakthrough in the dispute.
March 8 Christians and Hizbullah representatives failed during a meeting on Sunday to reach common ground on the nature of the new cabinet and the new electoral law.
The meeting was held between Aoun, Franjieh, Pakradonian, Hussein Khalil and Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa in the absence of AMAL movement-led by Berri.
Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan, who is loyal to Aoun, told An Nahar newspaper that the priority is to set a new electoral law.
He pointed out that a parliamentary session should be held soon for voting on the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law, whether the session will lack quorum or not.
“The parliamentary blocs that have previously voiced their support to the proposal should commit to their stance,” Kanaan told An Nahar.
The polls are likely to be postponed if the parliament gives the green light to the proposal that divides Lebanon into a single district and allows each sect to vote for its own MPs under a proportional representation system.
Concerning the government crisis, the lawmaker said that the FPM hasn't decided yet to boycott the binding consultations.
The binding consultations will be held between President Michel Suleiman and the parliamentary blocs and independents on the name of the PM-designate after Prime Minister Najib Miqati resigned on March 22.
His resignation further complicated the political crisis in Lebanon after signs began appearing that the Hizbullah-led March 8 forces are seeking a national salvation cabinet while the March 14 opposition alliance wants a neutral government.
Kanaan pointed out that officials should differentiate between the adoption of the electoral law and the naming of the new PM-designate.
“We are against extending the tenure of the current parliament and we reject any political vacuum,” Kanaan added.
According to As Safir newspaper, Hizbullah set as a priority selecting a balanced figure to form the new cabinet.
Sources close to the party said that proposals to form a neutral cabinet are not realistic as they aim at excluding Hizbullah based on a U.S. request.
They pointed out that the challenges confronting the country require the formation of a strong political government that is capable of acting responsibly.
A March 8 Christian leader told As Safir that “all options are open,” noting that the coalition rejects the candidacy of Khaled Qabbani and Ghaleb Mahmasani, who are close to al-Mustaqbal Movement, to the premiership.
The leader, that was named in the report, said that if a technocrat cabinet will be formed then head of the Economic Committees Adnan Kassar should form it.
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