Report: March 8 Pleaded with Miqati Not to Propose 24-Member Draft Lineup
Premier-designate Najib Miqati was reportedly planning to propose a 24-member draft cabinet lineup to President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday but was pressured by the March 8 forces not to make such a move.
An Nahar daily said Wednesday that the lineup was divided as follows:
Sunnis: Miqati, Mohammed Safadi, Walid al-Daouq, Alaeddine Terro and a 5th other than Faisal Karami (whom Hizbullah insists on giving a seat.)
Maronites: Jebran Bassil, Ziad Baroud, Shakib Qartbawi, Nazem al-Khoury, Salim Karam or Michel Kallas.
Shiites: Yassine Jaber, Mohammed Jawad Khalife, Mahmoud Berri, Mohammed Fneish, Hussein al-Hajj Hassan or Trad Hamadeh.
Orthodox: Fayez Ghosn, Nicolas Nahas and Marwan Abu Fadel.
Druze: Ghazi Aridi and Wael Abou Faour.
Catholics: Nicolas Fattoush, Arlette Jraissati or Maurice Sahnawi.
One Armenian and another minister representing minorities.
However, the draft lineup did not see light after Miqati was pressured not to propose it to Suleiman, An Nahar said.
The report came after Miqati held a meeting with the advisors of the speaker and the Hizbullah leader, MP Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Khalil, and Caretaker Ministers Jebran Bassil and Ghazi Aridi.
Informed sources told local dailies that the meeting was positive and was aimed at sending a message to critics that the March 8 forces are unified after reports that Miqati was planning to announce a de facto cabinet over a continued deadlock on the interior ministry portfolio and the Sunni representation.
Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun reiterated on Tuesday that the portfolio should be part of his share in the cabinet.
When asked about Aoun’s stance, Miqati’s circles said: “As the leader of a large parliamentary bloc and a political leader, Aoun has every right to say what he wants and what he sees appropriate. (But) the mission to form the cabinet remains part of the premier-designate’s authorities.”
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/4711 |