March 8 Sunni MPs Reject Naming Minister Not Belonging to ‘Bloc’

The Consultative Sunni Gathering refused suggestions to allocate a ministerial portfolio to a Sunni figure not belonging to their group, as efforts continue to resolve the government formation delay, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

The so-called independent Sunni MPs comprised of six lawmakers, said they “insist” one of them be represented, arguing that the “height of popularity” was given to all six of them.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has reportedly carried a proposal from President Michel Aoun to Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri on naming a Sunni minister not provocative to Hariri from the President's share in a bid to solve the new hurdle.

After six-month of delay, the new cabinet was on the verge of formation early this week after the Lebanese Forces accepted the portfolios that were assigned to it but a last-minute hurdle over the representation of the so-called independent Sunni MPs has surfaced.

Hizbullah has backed the MPs' demand and refrained from providing Hariri with the names of its own ministers in a bid to press him to accept giving a seat to the aforementioned Sunni grouping.