Hizbullah's Participation in Cabinet Session Uncertain

Hizbullah's participation in the cabinet session scheduled for next week hinges on the consultations it plans to hold with allies from the Free Patriotic Movement, AMAL, Marada and Tashnag, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Saturday.

“Hizbullah has not taken a decision yet if it will take part in Thursday’s cabinet session. It still has to hold consultations with its allies not only from the Free Patriotic Movement but also from the Marada, AMAL and Tashnag,” said State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mohammed Fneish in an interview to the daily.

“We still have time for consultations with everyone until Thursday. But we do not mind that a solution is reached for a known problem if our allies accept in order to facilitate the affairs of the state and citizens,” he added.

On Friday, Prime Minister Tammam Salam called for a cabinet convention next week. The session will be held on Thursday with 140 articles on its agenda.

The Free Patriotic Movement has refused on numerous occasions to participate in cabinet sessions before an agreement is reached on its decision-making mechanism in wake of the presidential vacuum.

This has consequently led to the crippling of the government's work.

On the other hand, ministerial sources of the FPM told al-Akhbar daily that “contacts are ongoing in order attend the session,” noting that “it is most likely to go back to the old mechanism of action in terms of the cabinet inheriting the jurisdictions of the presidency. However we emphasize that draft laws objected by two or groups will not be passed.”

For his part, Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas told al-Joumhouria daily: “I do not think that anyone would fail to attend the session. We will not do miracles during Thursday's meeting but at least it will address the people's concerns.”

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

Ongoing disputes between the rival March 8 and 14 camps over a compromise candidate have thwarted the polls.