Cabinet to Resume Sessions Monday without Tackling Contentious Issues

Cabinet is expected to resume its sessions on Monday ahead of President Michel Suleiman’s official visit to Romania, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

It said that the session will be held at the Baabda Palace and it will not tackle any contentious issues, such as the appointments of top civil servants.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s sources told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the issue of the appointments is still being studied, “especially since filling vacancies has become a pressing matter.”

They added that the premier is hoping that the resumption of cabinet sessions will “pave the way for a new phase of cooperation away from petty disputes.”

Newly-appointed Labor Minister Salim Jreissati is expected to attend the session, which includes 68 articles on its agenda.

Cabinet is scheduled convene again on Wednesday at the Grand Serail.

On February 1, Miqati suspended a cabinet session at the Baabda Palace over an ongoing dispute over the issue of administrative appointments.

The suspension was prompted when FPM ministers walked out of the session.

“The move is meant to push everyone to act responsibly and use their energy positively, towards the smooth run of state affairs not the opposite,” the prime minister said.

A dispute between Suleiman and FPM leader MP Michel Aoun over shares allotted to Christians has prevented consensus over administrative appointments, leaving several high-ranking posts vacant.