Geagea Says March 14 Ready Not to Participate in Cabinet Line-up
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed on Monday the March 14 alliance's readiness not to participate in the new cabinet's line-up so that it wouldn't be accused of obstructing the formation process.
“Despite it's not fair but our coalition is ready to remain out of the new government like Hizbullah,” Geagea said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He pointed out that Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam must not form a cabinet that includes Hizbullah in it “because the cabinet must not include a party that is deeply involved in the conflict in (the neighboring country) Syria.”
Hizbullah fighters publicly intervened in the conflict in Syria in April, siding with President Bashar Assad's regime against the mainly Sunni rebels.
Geagea warned if any Hizbullah was handed a portfolio in the newly-formed cabinet then it will give the image that “the government accepts or is covering up for its participation in Syria.”
“The cabinet will give the impression that it's part of the ongoing turmoil, which will impose negative repercussions on Lebanon,” the LF leader said.
Salam is seeking to form a cabinet divided equally between the Lebanese foes and the centrists and rejects to grant the veto power to any party.
Concerning Tuesday's parliamentary session that Speaker Nabih Berri called for, Geagea reiterated that the session's agenda isn't “constitutional.”
“Berri is allowing himself to take inaccurate decisions,” he pointed out.
The Christian leader said that Berri considers himself as “the country's spoiled kid.”
Geagea noted that the agenda set for Tuesday's session is usually adopted in normal conditions, when there's a cabinet, but we have a resigned cabinet... which obliges the parliament to hold an extraordinary session when there's a necessity.”
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and the March 14 alliance stand firm on boycotting the parliamentary session over their claim that holding such a session with a resigned government was unconstitutional, unless it was set to discuss a “critical” draft law.
Source: Agence France Presse
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