30-Member Cabinet to Witness Light Soon Amid Reported Deal on Interior Ministry Portfolio
The Lebanese were optimistic on Friday that the new government would be formed within days after a new draft lineup proposed by Premier-designate Najib Miqati reportedly received the consent of major political parties.
“Lebanon will have a government before the end of the month. The next few days are decisive and crucial,” a source close to Miqati told several Lebanese dailies.
He said the draft 26-member cabinet lineup presented by Miqati to President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday was turned down for “sectarian reasons.”
The new draft 30-member lineup includes mainly politicians and some technocrats and is expected to appease Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, An Nahar daily said.
Sources following up the consultations said Miqati is now discussing with involved parties the names of ministers and distribution of portfolios.
They said the premier-designate met on Thursday night with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Caretaker Minister Ghazi Aridi following their return from Damascus. Jumblat informed Miqati about Syrian keenness to speed up the formation of the cabinet, As Safir daily reported.
Miqati also met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh. Berri’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil attended the meeting on Thursday.
An Nahar said that a delegation from the March 8 forces would visit Rabiyeh on Friday to discuss with Aoun the cabinet formation.
The newspaper hinted that optimism on the formation of the government in a few days came after Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, an ally of Aoun, agreed to be given the interior ministry portfolio.
It said making the portfolio as part of Franjieh’s share in the government was the only solution to the ongoing bickering between Aoun and Suleiman, who were both holding onto the interior ministry.
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