Suleiman, Saniora Fail to Agree on New Government
A meeting held over the weekend between President Michel Suleiman and al-Mustaqbal bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora ended with no results on the form of the new government, media reports said Tuesday.
Al-Liwaa daily said that Saniora visited Suleiman at Baabda palace on Sunday to inquire him on his latest call for an all-embracing government and the resumption of the national dialogue.
But their meeting did not come out with a clear result after Suleiman told the lawmaker that it was up to Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam to interpret the meaning of an all-embracing cabinet.
According to al-Liwaa, the president also told Saniora that he saw a 24-member cabinet divided equally between the March 8, March 14 and the centrist camps as the best choice.
But An Nahar newspaper said Suleiman's proposal was withdrawn hours following the Baabda meeting after Hizbullah reiterated its rejection of such a formula.
The Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance is calling for more shares in the new government while its foes in the March 14 coalition asks for the party's exclusion from the cabinet over its participation in Syria's civil war.
Despite the failure to reach any agreement, sources close to Suleiman said the president was awaiting a “bold decision” from Salam on the formation of a government that includes all parties.
Another source quoted the premier-designate as saying that Salam discussed the issue with the president on Sunday.
over 10 years
Karim
I don't think he forgot that. He simply acted as a leader of a significant portion of a parliamentary bloc.
over 10 years
there is no way that m14 will accept the inclusion of hizbushaitan in any cabinet.
legalizing this terrorist Iranian militia by including them in the government equals being a traitor like the Vichy government during the German occupation.
over 10 years
Ha Ha Ha good idea tonyfaris.
But rent it from where?
One suggestion: we should get Carlos Ghosn and all other prominent
Lebanese worldwide to form a national salvation government to rescue Lebanon from the mess our current politicians put us in
over 10 years
That would imply of course neutralizing our current 128 MP's and never allow them to run again or pass on their seats to their son...etc...
over 10 years
A government of technocrats. The only solution until the warring politicians realise that they are only helping destroy the unity of the Republic of Lebanon.
over 10 years
You may say that it is forbidden, but surely it is preferable to having Lebanon tearing itself apart, as is going on at the moment.
Remember they would only be in power as long as the politicians can;t agree with each other, but the very existance of this type of government would surely force the politicians to understand that they have to come to agreements.
Saniora forgot that he's no longer Prime Minister.