Consultations Could be Postponed Again Over Equal Votes on PM

Informed sources did not rule out a postponement in parliamentary consultations set for Monday and Tuesday over the division of votes for the new prime minister.

The sources told al-Liwaa daily in remarks published Saturday that votes could be divided between 64 in favor of Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri and another 64 in favor of former Premier Omar Karami, leading to the postponement of the binding consultations.

An Nahar newspaper also said that the consultations could be postponed after the March 14 forces realized that votes will not be in favor of their nominee.

If, however, the March 8 team wins, President Michel Suleiman will reject to form a cabinet that doesn’t include March 14 ministers, al-Liwaa said.

March 14 could return to the cabinet as an opposition that has veto power, it added.