‘Serious Progress’ in Cabinet Formation Amid Report About Deal on Shares

Contacts aimed at forming the new government made a “serious progress” on the differences over the Sunni representation and the share of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, As Safir daily reported Saturday.

An Nahar newspaper also said that intense meetings between Premier-designate Najib Miqati and March 8 officials led to an agreement on the shares of each side but the leaders are staying mum on the issue.

The secrecy surrounding the talks does not mean that the cabinet formation process has a slow pace, sources told the daily. On the contrary, they give the process a push despite all rumors about a deadlock, the sources added.

According to al-Liwaa newspaper, Miqati agreed to distribute shares in a 30-member cabinet as follows: Ten ministers for Aoun, another ten for Amal and Hizbullah and whoever they choose from other March 8 parties and finally ten other seats to the representatives of the prime minister-designate, President Michel Suleiman and National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblat.

Miqati has also reportedly agreed to grant the defense ministry portfolio to Democratic Party chief MP Talal Arslan and the health portfolio to a minister backed by Marada leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.

Among the meetings that Miqati held with March 8 officials on Friday, were talks with Speaker Nabih Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil. The premier-designate also held a telephone conversation with Hussein Khalil, the assistant of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.