Suleiman, Saniora Fail to Agree on New Government
A meeting held over the weekend between President Michel Suleiman and al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora ended with no results on the form of the new government, media reports said Tuesday.
Al-Liwaa daily said that Saniora visited Suleiman at Baabda palace on Sunday to inquire him on his latest call for an all-embracing government and the resumption of the national dialogue.
But their meeting did not come out with a clear result after Suleiman told the lawmaker that it was up to Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to interpret the meaning of an all-embracing cabinet.
According to al-Liwaa, the president also told Saniora that he saw a 24-member cabinet divided equally between the March 8, March 14 and the centrist camps as the best choice.
But An Nahar newspaper said Suleiman's proposal was withdrawn hours following the Baabda meeting after Hizbullah reiterated its rejection of such a formula.
The Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance is calling for more shares in the new government while its foes in the March 14 coalition asks for the party's exclusion from the cabinet over its participation in Syria's civil war.
Despite the failure to reach any agreement, sources close to Suleiman said the president was awaiting a “bold decision” from Salam on the formation of a government that includes all parties.
Another source quoted the premier-designate as saying that Salam discussed the issue with the president on Sunday.
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