Derbas: Hariri to Make More Concessions to Facilitate Cabinet Line-up

Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Rashid Derbas commented on the delay in forming a new government and said that the hurdles obstructing it “are draining” the initiative of PM-designate Saad Hariri that first started with a comprehensive settlement to elect President Michel Aoun and end the presidential vacuum.

“Hariri made major concessions which fell within a comprehensive settlement that requires the election of General Michel Aoun as president and that expected a new government to be ready within a week after the election,” said Derbas in an interview to Voice of Lebanon Radio (93.3).

Derbas considered the wrangling over ministerial portfolios that have hampered the formation process so far as “draining the momentum of the president and Hariri's initiative.”

He added the the conflicts over key portfolios “means that the related parties prefer their own interests over the interest of the State.”

He concluded as saying that Hariri is ready and will make additional concessions to speed up the formation.