Lebanese Parties Reportedly Mulling 'New Political Deal'

Lebanon’s ruling political forces are mulling a new political deal that would guarantee the interests of all parties, following the failure of the latest attempted settlement, a media report said.

According to ad-Diyar newspaper, the new proposals include points from the botched deal, such as “passing a law for the creation of an accusatory body whose powers would exceed those of the judicial investigator (into the Beirut port blast), in return for the government pledging to tackle the appointments file in the first session” it would hold after the resumption of its meetings.

The daily added that the appointments would involve “more than 150 vacant and non-vacant posts, which would raise the FPM’s share to more than 61 posts.”

“The appointment of a head and members for the Higher Defense Council, some security chiefs and a central bank governor would be among the top appointments that would be made,” ad-Diyar said.

Under the supposed deal, the ruling political parties would also seek electoral alliances among themselves that would guarantee them a certain number of parliamentary seats.