Diab Meets Franjieh, Khalil, al-Khalil, May Accept 20-Seat Govt.

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Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab held talks Monday at his residence with Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh, Hizbullah secretary-general’s political assistant Hussein Khalil and Speaker Nabih Berri’s political aide Ali Hassan Khalil.

LBCI television said the meeting “did not achieve tangible results in terms of resolving the obstacles delaying the government’s formation.”

“Diab is still insisting on an 18-minister cabinet and will hold further consultations over a proposal to raise the number of ministers to 20,” LBCI added.

Al-Jadeed TV for its part said Diab “insisted on keeping the number of ministers at 18” but noted that he would accept a 20-seat government “should this proposal represent an exit from the country’s crises.”

MTV meanwhile revealed details about the "settlement" that is being discussed.

"A 20-minister government would be formed in which Marada would get a second Greek Orthodox minister while (Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran) Bassil would back a Greek Catholic minister and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party would name a Druze minister," MTV said.

"But this proposal is awaiting the approval of the PM-designate," it added.

SourceNaharnet
Comments 4
Thumb justice 4 years

Diab “insisted on keeping the number of ministers at 18” but noted that he would accept a 20-seat government “

this Syrian is really tough and sticks to his position:)

Missing rabiosa 4 years

Thi is where the problem is. BIG bloated government, redundant employees, corrupt bureaucracy, endless useless Ministries. This is the biggest public funds waste i addition to EDL.

Ye they want to increase from 18 to 20 ministers in an economic and financial disaster the country is going through. At best of time the country should have MAX 10 ministries.

Thumb shoo-yaba 4 years

The US Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
How can Lebanon with a very small foot print need that many ministers?

Thumb farsical.resistance 4 years

Why don't the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and Bassil do overtly what they did covertly in the resigned government, name a minister who belong to both, you know, à la Elias Bou Saab LOL.