Hizbullah Mediates: Aoun Eying Jumblat’s Public Works Ministry

Hizbullah is reportedly mediating between Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat after the FPM asked for a “services ministry” alleging that it has no such portfolio as part of its shares in the new cabinet.

Sources involved in the consultations aimed at forming the government told al-Akhbar daily in remarks published Monday that Hizbullah made no major progress yet in its mediation efforts.

The sources quoted Aoun’s envoy Caretaker Minister Jebran Bassil as saying in the last meeting aimed at finding a solution to the cabinet deadlock that the FPM has the right to get the public works ministry which is part of Jumblat’s share in the cabinet.

Sources also told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that Hizbullah does not fully agree with the FPM’s demands but is not making the differences public.

They said the Hizbullah leader’s aide, Hussein Khalil does not support most of Bassil’s demands. This was clear in the last meeting held between them in the presence of Premier-designate Najib Miqati and the Speaker’s advisor MP Ali Hassan Khalil.