Hizbullah, PSP Ties Deteriorate as Abou Faour Meets Safa
The ties between Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah has deteriorated over the controversial dispute over the formation of the cabinet, media reports said on Tuesday.
Sources close to Jumblat told al-Liwaa newspaper that consultations are ongoing to reach common ground over the distribution of portfolios and to grant the March 8 alliance further guarantees over the matter.
According to As Safir newspaper, Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to Jumblat, held talks on Monday night with Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa.
The newspaper pointed out that the meeting focused on the process of the cabinet formation.
Abou Faour briefed Safa on his visit to Saudi Arabia and the importance of ending any confrontation over the matter.
The minister, however, insisted on the 24-member cabinet.
Abou Faour pointed out on Monday after talks with Speaker Nabih Berri that Jumblat is keen “to maintain consultations with Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, President Michel Suleiman, and all sides to reach an agreement over a new government, which will help avert numerous repercussions.”
Media reports had said that the minister was delegated by Jumblat to discuss the cabinet formation with Suleiman and Salam.
Salam had repeatedly said that he advocates the formation of a 24-minister government that sees the equal distribution of portfolios between the March 8, March 14, and centrist camps, whereby each side would be granted eight ministers.
However, the March 8 coalition had rejected this formula, demanding to attain the veto power in the government, which was totally rejected by Salam, who vowed to step down if any of the March 8 camp ministers resigned.
Jumblat and Abou Faour returned to Beirut Sunday after meeting with former Premier Saad Hariri and Saudi officials in Jeddah.
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