Report: Cabinet Crisis Goes Beyond Fight over Portfolios

Lebanese Forces sources stressed on Wednesday that the obstacles hampering the formation of a new cabinet stem from intentions of some parties to prevent President Michel Aoun from practicing his role to establish a strong State, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

“The current crisis to line up a cabinet goes beyond conflicts over ministerial portfolios. It stems from a strategic nature linked to preventing President Michel Aoun from an attempt to build a State,” LF sources told the daily.

“It is obvious that their specifications of a President is to be a fighter in Aleppo not a President of the Republic in Lebanon,” added the sources in reference to Hizbullah fighters fighting alongside the Syrian regime in Syria.

The sources added on condition of anonymity the “party obstructing the formation is not used to having a strong president who is capable of holding negotiations based on his constitutional rights and strong alliances. Who refuses to bargain on his relations with allies, the Lebanese Forces at the forefront."

"The obstructing party is not used to seeing a president who practices his role as a real partner in forming a government," they concluded.

Last month, the parliament elected Aoun, a former general, as president ending a two-and-half-year deadlock that left Lebanon without a president.

Hariri is still facing obstacles bringing together a line-up that balances Lebanon's delicate sectarian-based political system. At stake is the distribution of the most powerful portfolios like the defense ministry and other key portfolios including the public works.