Discussions on Formation of 24-Member Cabinet Make Major Progress

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has reportedly clinched a preliminary deal with the country's major political parties to form a 24-member cabinet made up of figures who are not running in the parliamentary elections.

Official sources told al-Liwaa newspaper that Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat are playing a major role along with Salam to bring the new cabinet to light.

The government formation process gathered pace at the end of last week when Jumblat and Berri's aide, caretaker Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, visited Salam.

The sources said that Hizbullah would also be part of the discussions that were held in the past 48 hours.

They said an agreement was reached to form a national consensus cabinet made up of political figures that are not provocative and not running in the polls.

The deal also included to separate the cabinet formation process from the dispute on the controversial electoral draft-law.

An Nahar newspaper said that Salam could now move to the division of portfolios after the agreement on forming a 24-member cabinet and adopting a rotation in the portfolios.

Sources close to Salam confirmed to both al-Liwaa and As Safir that "major progress" has been made in the formation process but that more consultations are needed to bring the government to light.

The sources avoided giving dates and reiterated that the PM-designate wants a homogeneous and effective executive authority.